101 Things You Don’t Know About Science, Case Study Example

Numerous advances in science have come from understanding the micro foundations of complex systems. Indeed, while discoveries into the macro properties of matter and the human body served as a foundational knowledge, understanding what drove the underlying changes has led to numerous scientific revolutions. John Dalton and Ernest Rutherford jointly made discoveries contributing to knowledge of the atom- the micro particle that drove chemical and physical reactions. With this knowledge, a raft of new inventions appeared (e.g., nuclear power) that emphasized humans ability to “engineer” results from a natural process. By the same logic, Gregor Mendel’s seemingly innocuous pea plant experiments in the nineteenth century provided evidence for the concept of “genetics” into the scientific realm. Until that point, humans had an understanding that inheritance was an important (and malleable) concept; however, they did not know the (micro) mechanism that drove these changes. The discoveries of micro foundations in matter and genetics also played an important role in the three case studies chosen: the case of the “killer bees”, nanotechnology, and electrical circuitry. Scientists’ efforts to manipulate and engineer atoms and genes will likely lead to further scientific discoveries (and unanticipated problems) in the future.

The case of the “killer” bees illustrates how ecosystems (and humans) adopt to unexpected changes. Humans have a long history of using bees as a means to produce honey. Indeed, purportedly starting in pre-historic times, humans engineered an elaborate process to draw honey from bees in hives, including elaborate breeding techniques in which “queens” from hives are replaced in order to keep honey flowing during the turnover of different seasons. This technique worked for centuries as beekeepers were more familiar with the behavior of the main bee species apis mellifera.

Humans’ ability to “engineer” change, however, sometimes leads to unintended consequences. Due to differences in the breeding and production of bees in the northern and southern hemisphere, beekeepers in Brazil decided to see what would happen by mixing imported African queen bees to see if honey production would increase. After an individual removed the safety grid, however, the bees escaped leading to an invasion of more aggressive bees in previously calmer northern habitats. The mix, however, did not work out: the new species of bees produced less honey while the aggressive nature of the bees to go after the beekeeper noticeably increased. In response, beekeepers further engineered their hives to prevent the breeding of hybrid bees by “requeening” (replacing the old queen with a new queen) and flooding the hives with European droves to maintain a purer stock of bees. The case study of killer bees shows how human engineering can both solve problems.

The same spirit of engineering micro processes is observable in nanotechnology and (increasingly) small electrical circuits. Indeed, whereas beekeepers engaged in “genetic engineering” for centuries in order to derive honey, nanotechnology is focused on manipulating individual atoms and molecules into a structure that proves useful such as circuits, or even a steam engine. Indeed, scientists are able to use zeolites, a crystalline structure, as a sieve to essentially produce micro structures that were previously impossible to build due to the intricacy involved. Scientists are also able to make “designer solids” – that is, macro structures that are designed molecule by molecule and keep together by the electrical force that molecules impose on each other. Essentially, the structures form by themselves. Nanotechnology holds tremendous promise for the future in solving many difficult problems including forming new treatments for diseases, delivery of drugs, and forming more robust solids for building.

.The focus on manipulating micro structures has also led to unprecedented breakthroughs in the area of electrical circuits. The invention of the transistor, based on micro wires, was a main driver for the consumer electronics industry. Indeed, in the wake of the resistor revolution: personal computers have become faster; computer storage units has become bigger; and music players have become much smaller. While all of this is a function of already intricate engineering, scientists are attempting to make transistors even smaller: some as small as several atoms. Although the author points out that many breakthroughs are not necessarily tied to making things “smaller” but finding ways to connect existing structures.

Overall, the scientific revolution to understand the structures of matter and humans will inevitably lead to previously incomprehensible breakthroughs. Just as the invention of the atom and gene has led to previously incomprehensible inventions, the further understanding of micro foundations will inevitably lead to a new generation of invention.