The Science of the new year

Folks, some 2009 science trivia. Its now 400 years since Galileo invented the first telescope and its 150 years since Darwin published on evolution.

If the Governments still continue to invest (?) in science (??), by the end of 2009, you can fly your girl to moon (literally, thanks to commercial space travels), view a F1 on mars with NASA’s car sized rovers and scan your gene to determine if you will die a madcap.

Its fascinating that By 2009, we would have 400 genes linked to predisposition for common diseases. That means we have more lego blocks to play with. (The best dummies guide on this topic is Michael Crichton’s novel ‘Next’). Ever questioned why your tomatoes are perfectly shaped, shinier and last longer than they were 10 years back? Genetic Modifications. We are stepping into the age of Designer Humans – genetically modified beings, like the super tomatoes.

That reminds me of Mary shelley’s Frankenstein – a vividly imaginative story of the 1800s. But it actually was the romanticists’ warning against the science’s mad pursuits those days. As you see, Frankenstein’s unpremeditated creation turns out to be a hideous monster and brings about destruction. It’s a criticism on the obsessive pursuits on life’s secrets at any costs. The disasters out of tampering with the nature.

We only hope that the Shelley’s prophesy doesn’t come true 200 years down the line.