Inventions and Discoveries

Introduction

If the world is a vehicle, scientific inventions are the wheels. Humanity cannot develop without advancements in science and technology. For the past few centuries, scientists have worked tirelessly to invent new machinery and technology to enrich the scientific world and make human existence easier.

The 21st century has witnessed several recent science discoveries and inventions that have had a revolutionary impact on human society. It is essential to stay up-to-date with these inventions to have rich general knowledge and better understand the world. Knowing the scientific discoveries can also help a person have a transparent understanding of technology and the latest scientific trends.

Science as a Branch of General Knowledge

We perceive the term General Knowledge from many aspects. History is a branch of general knowledge that deals with the past. Similarly, science is a branch of general knowledge that deals with the present and future. It is an evidence-based approach to pursue knowledge and apply it to create a transparent understanding of the natural world.

While other branches of general knowledge can represent a single fact from different perspectives, science is absolute. It is a systematic methodology that draws a specific conclusion through objective observation. Evidence, experimentation, and critical analysis are the three most crucial elements of science.

Advances in Science – Inventions & Discoveries

In the 21st century, the world has witnessed several breakthroughs in science. Among these latest inventions and discoveries in science and technology, some have brought revolutionary changes in the way humans perceive the world around them. The world has witnessed breakthroughs in astronomy, paleontology, genetic engineering, and physics.

Measuring the Cosmos

Over 100 years ago, Einstein published his theory of relativity in 1915. Today, researchers employed the most advanced technology in the world to put that theory to the test. As a result, every claim made in Einstein’s theory was proved accurate. Some basic assumptions of the theory include the perception of the universe as a space-time fabric. According to the theory, the fabric is warped by heavy masses, causing the gravitational pull. This aspect is contradictory to the assumptions of Issac Newton, who described gravity as an internal property of mass.

In September 2015, the collaborative tests of LIGO and Virgo recorded the first gravitational wave. The study shows that the waves were generated due to the merging of two black holes 1.3 billion light-years away from earth. These results confirm the theory of Einstein that states that ripples in space-time can be created through the acceleration of large enough mass. Such large masses can be found in black holes and neutron stars. After this discovery, the instrument has succeeded in detecting several gravitational waves, and one of them is a result of the merger of two neutron stars.

Recreation of genetic configurations

Genetic engineering has travelled a long and eventful path. Since the introduction of the double helix structure of DNA in the 1950s, microbiologists and scientists alike have been trying to find ways to modify human genes artificially. By changing the genetic configuration in an organism, the functions of the organisms were hypothesised to be modifiable.

In 1990, the first gene therapy was approved on a 4-year-old girl. The white blood cells of the girl were removed from her body and augmented with ADA (adenosine deaminase is an enzyme that strengthens the immune system). Then the modified WBC was injected into her body. Even though the therapy resulted in enzyme production, the new WBC produced did not contain the modified genes.

Using the Cas9 enzyme, any part of DNA can be cut and edited with ease. From increasing crop yields to fighting cancer, genetic engineering is used everywhere.

The new definition of a kilogram

It is general knowledge that kilogram, the unit of mass, is defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium alloy cylinder. However, in 2018, the scientists voted to change the definition and base it on a constant instead of an object.

The experiment was conducted using the Kibble balance, a new-age weighing machine that provides high accuracy measurements. The instrument provided the scientists with the exact amount of electromagnetic force required to hold up a kilogram. This force was then expressed in terms of the constant used by Max Planck, and the Plank’s constant measured the energy bundles radiated by the stars.

The colour of dinosaurs

Among the latest science discoveries and inventions, the discovery of the colour of dinosaurs’ skin has been the most exciting achievement in paleontology since the last century. In January 2010, scientists were able to use fossilised pigment to reconstruct dinosaurs’ bodies. The analysis of melanosomes found in the fossils of Sinosauropteryx (a species of dinosaur that inhabited China 125 million years ago) shows that the prehistoric creature had stripes on its tail and a dark reddish colour.

The body of Anchiornis, another dinosaur that inhabited earth 160 years ago, was reconstructed shortly after. Its body was shown to have black and white feathers, and however, the species had a plume of vibrant red feathers on its head. With further studies, scientists have found evidence of camouflage in several dinosaur species. It is not only a remarkable achievement of palaeontology but also a crucial element of evolution.

Conclusion

It is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest science discoveries and inventions to know the world better and understand natural phenomena through systematic evidence. Understanding how these recent science discoveries and inventions have made our lives easier can also aid one’s contribution to society.