Science - The Disaster Movie
submitted 6-18-07, by SP

Another title for this article could be, "We must put the Genie back in the bottle."

For as long as I can remember, and that is longer than I care to admit, I have heard loud predictions of impending doom caused by science and technology.

And despite the passing of all that time, I have yet to be engulfed in catastrophe caused by products of scientific endeavors. To the contrary, I am constantly benefiting from these technologies. My life is enriched, enhanced, and extended by scientific research and the industry it breeds.

I enjoy the fruits of scientific research.

I have wonderful items made of materials that did not exist a generation ago; plastics, industrial ceramics, semiconductors, super conductors, and Kevlar.

I heat food in a microwave and run my business from a notebook computer.

My car is fast, dependable, comfortable, and costs less to fuel than did my grandfather's horse.

I will likely live longer than my parents. My children will live longer than me. My grandchildren may live a hundred and fifty years! While I am living I will be healthier and more vital than previous generations at half my age.

I will have travelled farther and talked to more people than previous generations could have hoped. I can communicate with friends and businesses all over the world, instantly. I can actually be anywhere in the world in just hours. I can fly to Rome...for dinner!

The earth-shattering bombs that were unleashed on Japan ended a bloody war in a few days. The world survived.

Petroleum has not run out. And, it seems that the law of supply and demand will slow its depletion so that many generations do not have to worry.

Is global warming caused by humans? Is it real? Is a rise in temperature a clarion for the world's end?

We will survive. We will thrive. Evolution will continue. Tectonic drift will continue. Earth will proceed along its orbit.

Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy the wonderful inventions brought to us through the workings of man's most powerful tool, our mind.