In this fast-pace changing world, new and new discoveries are introduced to mankind. Many of these great inventions of our time have long been an important part of our daily existence, from the discovery of a miracle medicine of antibiotics that cure and prolong the life of sick people, down to the most sophisticated micro chips that gave rise to the invention of today’s most valuable device – the computer system. In other words, all of these are attributed to the ingenuity of no other than - the man himself. If without those scientific brains such as the likes of Einstein, Alexander Fleming, George Mendel and Charles Babbage, we are probably living in discomfort, pain and extreme poverty. The world must be completely and forever be grateful for their intelligence, dedication and compassion for making this world a better place to live in.
Meanwhile, it’s been a while since we have heard and seen a person which can truly follow the same path or level of our great scientists such as those which I have mentioned above, not just in terms of popularity but more so of the quality of invention created. It’s hardly to assume that there is almost nothing, if not, little to be discovered nowadays. That is obviously not true. It is safer to say, that some scientists are probably afraid that their inventions would not be recognized or much worse, infringe their patent rights when someone is claiming their original works. But here’s a deal. A new set of scientists from the University of Washington is stealing a limelight in the world of discovery. They might be an answer to the long years of drought of a scientist or a group of scientists who can actually make valuable contributions in science and technology. Although they could not tap or surpass the great works of our great scientists, they may be at least at par in terms of the complexity of their works, significance of their inventions, as well as the attitude of a real scientist.
The Revolutionary Method of Exploration
Dr. John Delaney presented about an innovative research project that would change the course of exploration – that is, wiring an interactive ocean. Specifically, together with his team from the University of Washington, it aims to build “a cable network of deep ocean sensors that will study, over time and space, the way the ocean’s complex process interact. By networking the ocean to gather data, he’s helping to revolutionize ocean science.”I did say it is innovative. For the past few decades, super power countries such as America, Russia and Japan are battling over whose going to lead in launching a spacecraft in the outer space. It was through this ordeal that gauged the superiority and greatness of a nation over the other countries; a battle that had led to invent not just machines used for space exploration but as well as nuclear artillery. Throughout these years, the same countries are continuously doing the efforts and tirelessly make some space discovery even it would mean costing billions of money. Admittedly, it’s all worth the effort. Not because we are amazed when Neil Armstrong was the first man to set on foot the moon nor we are fascinated every time an astronaut makes fun of himself while doing the 360 degrees turn inside the spacecraft. But the beauty of it all is that, news around the globe is quickly relayed and much more accessible at the confine of our homes. Thanks to the satellite that has been set up in the outer space. It wasn’t just that because in reality, everybody seemed to benefit the many good things that were brought to us by space discoveries. But is this all what we’ve got? Scientists are preoccupied of producing sophisticated inventions with little value of improving the lives of its people. Time, effort and money have been extravagantly consumed to search what could still be left valuable in the outer space. But little has been improved in the life of its people since then. Space exploration is not the end solution of the human planetary crisis. We cannot afford to lose hope at this point in time. Though this world is full of problems, the solutions are also just right here in this world.
How about an exploration in the ocean? There is a paradigm shift that is taking place in the area of exploration. This time, a group of scientists from University of Washington, is spearheading a new method of exploration that could probably answers what other exploration has failed to provide solutions to diverse human problems. Dr. Delaney pointed out on his lecture of the possibility to emerge to a new wave of discoveries through ocean exploration. His main emphasis of his presentation is to give us an understanding that ocean is central to all natural activities that is happening around us. For instance, Delaney pointed out that “oceans control correlate with the growth patterns, and the drought pattern and the rain patterns on the continents.” This means that plant growth could be linked to oceanic activity. For the longest period of time, people don’t know about this thing. They are used to believe that everything what they see and what they do to their environment are only the things that matter to them. They lost with the idea that something beneath the earth’s surface could probably give more of an impact to save their lives and improve the quality of their life’s existence.
Its Implication
With the new approach of exploration, we have here much something to gain than lose. The study to be conducted can offer insights to the scientists and to us –the nature’s consumers, on how to deal better with our ocean. Let me again reiterate as what has been hypothesized by Dr. Delaney, that oceans are linked to nature’s activities. That it is ‘central to the quality of life on earth’. A farmer who is aware that plant life is linked to oceanic activity will decide when the appropriate planting time is or when to harvest better based on the oceans’ current. This is beneficial to the farmers to augment their farming production. The project might also conduct a monitoring system that will determine the number of sea species that would still be made available for human consumption until the next generation. The implication for this outcome would make our people to be more conscious to their actions and attitudes towards our water environment. Another perceived outcome of this experiment is that, seismic activities would earlier be forecasted such as when and where an Earthquake will hit a certain place and what time does a volcano will erupt so that people will take precautionary measures before these things to happen. It is also close to certainty that the said project may result to the discovery of new variety of medicines that will emerge from the ocean. Hopeless patients inflicted with incurable illnesses and diseases can catch now a sigh of relief if these things would be made possible. And lastly, the effect of this grandiose project will finally put to an end to the never ending hearsays as well as the made up stories capitalized by the media and other unscientific minds, that our planet Earth will be dissolved by that year and so on, just like what was portrayed in the movies Doomsday and 2012. Though it’s too early to predict the outcome of this exploration, I am very much hopeful that findings of this experiment will lead us to find out what’s really at stake in our planet in the future.
All of which that I have mentioned so far are still remain to be seen. But more appropriate question now is to ask if the project is doable. How could the project be materialized? As Delaney himself noted, his team will be using robotic equipments, applying the so-called nanotechnology to get for instance a sample of fluid of microbes deep below the sea floor (which have never been to the surface of the earth) using autonomous vehicles. Specimens taken from the sea floor will then be transferred to the laboratory for examination. The good thing about this is that all operations can be done live “bringing an entirely new telepresence to the world, throughout the ocean.”
Just like anybody else, who knows very little about the works of scientists, I am not in authority to doubt and oppose their capability to hold such a huge project. My concern goes primarily to the expenses that will be incurred from its operation and maintenance. We are talking here not just a million bucks of money but billion of dollars just for the single project alone. We cannot afford to put the money into waste again because in reality there are numerous problems in the world that need to be prioritized. The bottom line here is to question whether the benefits derived from this project could tap or answer to the growing problems of humanity. If not, let us drop down the case and back to square one again. But looking at the intent and desire of this pool of scientists to conduct a new approach of exploration, and not to mention, what has been emphasized on the data during Dr. Delaney’s lecture, I am convinced that with proper preparation, extensive analysis of the project and the continuous support of its government then there is no way for it to fail and be realized. This is indeed a feasible project. Everybody can’t wait to see and experience what our oceans can provide more other than just home of variety of sea species as well as the route for sea vessels. It’s too early to tell but more so I would like to predict, it’s going to be more exciting to live in a place that is full of endless possibilities.
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