This article explores the positive and negative impacts of scientific progress on human society – the light and the dark. It discusses how advances in science and technology can inevitably cause problems, but that the blame lies with the human choices we make in dealing with them rather than with science itself.   Sources of problems in human society In the film Dawn of the...

This book discusses the question of whether scientific progress is the result of a gradual accumulation of research achievements or a revolutionary paradigm shift. It explores the nature of scientific progress, focusing on Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolutions, explaining the relationship between steady-state and revolutionary scientific progress, as well as its objections and limitations...

Gamma Knife surgery is a non-invasive treatment that uses radiation to remove brain tumours without cutting into the skull, which can significantly reduce the burden on the patient. The precise irradiation removes the tumour with minimal damage to normal cells, with fewer side effects and a faster recovery than surgery.   Brain tumours are any tumour that develops within the skull and are...

The P versus NP problem is one of the most challenging problems in mathematics and computer science, comparing the time it takes to solve a problem with the time it takes to check it. If solved, it could revolutionise many fields, including cryptography, but it remains unsolved.   On 24 May 2000, the Clay Mathematics Institute in the United States announced a prize of $1 million per problem...

  Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have a wide range of applications in the semiconductor, bio, and environmental sectors, but are particularly revolutionising healthcare and biotechnology. This technology is making a big difference in a small world, and will play an important role in the future in more sophisticated diagnostics and treatments, environmental monitoring, and more.  ...

  Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used to treat diseases and produce GMO agricultural products, and while they have positive uses, they are also controversial due to ecosystem disruption and safety concerns. In particular, we need to be aware of the negative impacts that uncontrolled GMOs can have on society and the environment, and consumer protection and management are needed...

  Double buffering is a technique that uses two buffers to optimise frame transitions to achieve smooth on-screen animation. Page flipping and vertical synchronisation enable natural graphics by adjusting the timing of buffer swaps to reduce tearing.   The world is continuous, but recordings can’t capture all that continuity. So when you take a video with a video camera, it...

  This article highlights the prevalence of anxiety about food additives in modern society and explains that it is based on misconceptions stemming from media and anecdotal stories rather than scientific evidence. It also highlights the regulation and control of food additive safety and discusses the importance of a balanced view.   The need to rethink food additive safety One of the...

  This course compares the driving principles of petrol and diesel cars and electric vehicles, and explains the advantages of electric vehicles in terms of environmental pollution and maintenance costs. It also covers the types of electric vehicles and the potential for advances in battery technology, and discusses the challenges and future prospects for commercialising electric vehicles...

This article explains why autumn skies are blue and sunsets are red with the principles of quantum mechanics, covering light scattering and energy. It also gives many examples of real-life applications of quantum mechanics, such as nuclear power and quantum computers, to emphasise its relevance to our lives.   Autumn is upon us, the season of the sky, and when we look up, the sky is so high...