Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
What is science? If confined to the typical societal stigmas, science is a scientist in a lab, working for hours over a microscope with several chemical samples. If given a broader definition, science is all around us. It is in the way we breathe, or our biology. It is in the air around us, or the ecology. It is even in the universe that stretches so far beyond our feeble conceptions that we have had to develop a branch of science, theoretical physics, just to explain the missing links we do not understand yet. The book “Life, the Universe, and Everything,” by Douglas Adams, is a quirky, smart romp through all of the aforementioned levels of science; however it can be difficult to focus on that because the subject material is so seemingly unrealistic. Adams’ book is filled with science that has essentially yet to be fulfilled. For Adams, science is an evolutionary line that includes highly intelligent extra-terrestrials, robots that are not only able to perform convincing human tasks, but have convincing A.I. simulations, space travel outside of our own galaxy, and weapons that surpassed the atomic bomb. In reality, science is evolution, a slowly progressing A.I. program, the theoretical idea of space travel, and the dangerous expansion of weapons.
Excluding creationists, Evolutionary Theory has been widely accepted by most people living in the industrialized world. Since the great discoveries made by Darwin in the Galapagos Islands, we have been able to begin understanding where our origins lie, as well as where the origins of other species lie. Since the time that Evolutionary Theory began forming into a convincing hypothesis, man has wondered what else could be evolving on other planets. The talk of super intelligent extra-terrestrials has been incessant. Conspiracy theories and government cover-ups are commonplace talk in certain circles where individuals are sure highly evolved life forms exist. Despite these outlandish ideas, at this time the only extra-terrestrial lives we are aware of are microscopic bacteria and other small molecules. Adams went far beyond small bacteria and molecules, creating the type of aliens people only dream about. In his book, he conceives several different extra-terrestrials, all of which are highly evolved. Most are of superior intelligence though none is as memorable as Wowbagger who was immortal, had decided he hated everybody, and was on a mission to insult the universe . However, no such advanced life forms are known to exist in our universe, according to, “The Detection of Extra-Terrestrial Life and the Consequences for Science and Society.” For now, science remains within the evolutionary chain that we have discovered on earth.
Science is also technology, contrary to what others might believe. Engineers and physicists rely on many math equations, algorithms, and physics to help them perform tasks, solve problems, and invent inventions. Alan Turing, for example, used technology in its extreme forms for his time, and was the first to conceive that a computer would one day be capable of running an A.I., or artificial intelligence, simulation . The key to the A.I. simulation, as stated in, “A Novel Modification of the Turing Test for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Healthcare,” is for the computer to fool another human into thinking its talking to a human. Turing had predicted, however, that artificial intelligence simulations would be running in nearly every computer by today. It is still just a work of science fiction, unable to fool a human, though modifications are being made to model programs in the healthcare field . Adams took the concept of technology, robotics, and A.I., combined them, and put them into a robot called Marvin. Marvin is not only capable of performing the tasks of a human. He is also highly emotive, running a convincing, though often depressing, artificial intelligence simulation . As stated by Hutan Ashfarian and associates, however, artificial intelligence in a computer program, or robot, is still in the programming process. Therefore, science is still sometimes a developing technology.
Interstellar space travel is an area of science that has plagued NASA since its conception. While putting a man on the moon, and sending satellites to the most outer rings of the solar system are commendable accomplishments, scientists yearn to plumb the depths of our universe, as well as others. They do not want to use satellites for everything; they want to send astronauts to research other planets, solar systems, and galaxies. This appears to be a current impossibility though, as we lack the space shuttles, fuel, or human lifespan necessary to reach other solar systems; it takes two years for a satellite to reach Mars, and that is if we launch satellites so they will land during their opposition, or closest point . Traveling to other galaxies or star systems would take light years. Humans would die and be born on the space shuttle on the way if such a plan were ever tried and, since such a plan has been deemed unethical, until theoretical physics discovers the secrets to light speed travel or teleportation, we are stuck within our own solar system. This idea, of course, has not been entirely ruled out, but interstellar travel is not something that we are likely to see within our lifetime, or the next several lifetimes according to, “Is Interstellar Space Travel Possible?” Once again, Adams uses his literary prowess to take science that does not exist yet and force it into the present as one of his main characters, Zaphod Beeblebrox, pilots a spaceship called heart of Gold. It is capable of such speedy travel that it makes, “a blur of the Universe .” There are numerous times throughout the novel that light speed travel takes place, as the characters fly from one planet, galaxy, and universe, to another at a moment’s notice. While science of this magnitude does not exist yet, we have traveled to the moon and we have sent satellites to the edge of our solar system and beyond. Therefore, science is also space travel.
While science can be used for the forces of good, sometimes it is used for evil. This fact is not the fault of science. The materials and information are there; it is man that makes poor use of them. Weapons, for example, are sometimes a poor use of science’s potential. Whether it is something as small and seemingly simple as a pistol, or something as devastating and violent as an atomic bomb, weapons are dangerous. Sometimes invented as a method of self-defense, they can also cause tremendous damage. Tear gas, used for crowd control during riots, are often used as an abuse of power. Guns are used in school shootings. Many other weapons developed for self-defense are used only to harm others. One of the most deadly of all weapons that science has created is the atomic bomb . The creation of the atomic bomb was technically in self-defense, but it was also in an effort to make sure America had the weaponry before the Germans were able to refine it. Robert Oppenheimer, the man held widely responsible for releasing the power of the atomic bomb, was commended as a hero when the bomb worked during its tests in 1945. What many forget, as stated in, “The Pursuit of Power: Technology, Armed Forces, and Society since A.D. 1000,” is that Oppenheimer, and all other scientists involved, including Neils Bohr, should also be held responsible for all of the lives later taken by the atomic bomb when two were dropped on Hiroshima and the Aioi Bridge . Fortunately, for once, the technology has yet to progress past the atomic bomb. Adams used the technological advance, almost as a metaphor in his writing. “Life, the Universe, and Everything,” contains something called the Supernova bomb, which insinuates it has surpassed the atomic bomb by somehow encapsulating enough energy to outshine a galaxy and emit more radiation in a single burst than the sun does in its entire lifespan. The characters are immediately put on guard when they hear the object is called a Supernova bomb for this reason. It was created with the intention to destroy the entire universe in a single ignition. However, Marvin quickly informs them that the bomb does not work because the designers were aware that designing something that would destroy the whole universe would also take them with it. Whether he meant to or not is unknown, but Adams appears to state that the technology will never advance past the atomic bomb because anything larger would be foolish on the part of the creator; a bigger bomb would harm more than just the target. Marvin the robot states this fact flatly in, “Life, the Universe, and Everything,” as the other characters begin to fear for their lives. When concerning weapons, whether they are big or small, science is sometimes dangerous and strategic.
In sum, science can be many things. The subject is too broad to be confined to a laboratory, or even to an individual in a lab coat. Astronauts and inventors can be scientists. Inadvertent murders, such as Oppenheimer, can be scientists, as well. The definition needs to be broadened. Much of what science is depends on whether one chooses to analyze reality, or the realm of science fiction. For Douglas Adams, science was about intelligent extra-terrestrials, convincing artificial intelligence programs, traveling at the speed of light or teleporting from galaxy to galaxy, and taking a satirical stab at the foolishness of man. In reality, science is different. Science is Evolutionary Theory. Science is technology, however slowly it evolves. Science is space travel, even if it is only to the moon for a human or Pluto for a satellite. Science is also the invention of weapons, which means science is dangerous. Essentially, regardless of whether one chooses to analyze reality or science fiction, science is everything.
References
Adams, D. (2002). Life, the Universe, and Everything. New York City: Ballentine Books.
Ashrafian, H., Darzi, A., & Athanasiou, T. (2014). A novel modification of the Turing test for artificial intelligence and robotics in healthcare. The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 121-129.
Dominik, M., & Zarnecki, J. C. (2011). The detection of extra-terrestrial life and the consequences for science and society. The Royal Society, 499-507.
McNeill, W. H. (2013). The Pursuit of Power: Technology, Armed Force, and Society since A.D. 1000. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Singal, T., & Singal, A. K. (2012). Is Interstellar Space Travel Possible? Popular Physics, 42-54.
