Mar 05 2009
Isn’t it amazing
Once again I succeed in dropping off the face of the planet! Sorry about that!
One of my geeky facets is my love of science. I grew up in a family where asking “why” was always met with a clear and complete answer. We were always learning, and this thirst for knowledge stuck with us as we grew older.
There are people who, when I’ve told them this, have been surprised and even shocked, that my parents would “ruin the magic” of life. This is a common idea, that somehow the science of the explanation takes the joy out of life, that it makes it cold and clinical.
I’ve spoken before about the beauty of science, and it’s an idea that I’m aliment about. But beyond that, I find the world even more wonderful and amazing knowing the details. Yes rainbows are pretty, but imagine the millions of water drops that it is made up of, bending light to show you the entire spectrum of light.
Watch this video for example:
It is a 3D rendering (minus water) of the inside of the cell from a molecular base. This is very close to what actually happens, and is happening, in your body right now. Yes, all of it. If that’s not amazing I’m not sure what is.
I firmly believe that science, knowing more about how things work, only enhances the world. It makes wavelengths appear at a higher intensity, and taste buds more reactive. Ok, maybe not when I put it like that, but seriously. Without science there’s a limit to the wonders of the world. With science there’s a nearly infinite amount of wonder.
Plus it gives me an excuse to wear this:
Ah, the Inner Life of a Cell. The first time I saw that video, my academic adviser was using it as one of the props in her lecture on the beauty of biology. I still can’t get over that little motor protein walking subunit by subunit along the fiber… so cute!
I agree with you. Knowing why the surface of the bubble (or the oilslick in the puddle, or what have you) swims with color isn’t going to make it any less pretty. Knowing that you can go from two cells to a full organism–there’s no way that’s not amazing. Watching changes in the finch population, or seeing the move from Eohippus to Equus–knowing about chiral molecules, and admiring the intelligence of the New Caledonian crow and its tool-using behavior and bird-variety-handedness–that’s beauty.
There is nothing more amazing than being able to get an answer to ‘why’?
I’m afraid my kids get more science than they like (also grammar and vocabulary and history…) - but then my daughter corrects other people’s grammar and science and…
Science is all about wonder; it certainly doesn’t stifle it. But then you’d known that would be my answer, didn’t you? :)