Is science a boon or a bane? This question has been a matter of debate for a long time. On one hand, science has given us electricity, television, computer, telephone etc; while on the other hand, it has also given to this world modern and lethal weapons of mass destruction. Science, no doubt leads to knowledge, knowledge in turn leads to power and all of us know that, power corrupts the world, but the benefits of science are numerous and have helped mankind so much that today we cannot imagine life without science.
The most wonderful gift of science is the discovery of electricity. It was discovered by Benjamin Franklin and with its discovery; revolution came in the field of science. Many electrical instruments were invented one by one and today electricity is used with unconscious ease. It has such a widespread' use today that life would come to a standstill without electricity. Electricity makes our life comfortable, fast and easier. From a tiny electrical device to the mammoth train electricity is the only source of energy which keeps them going.
Science has also brought revolution in the field of medicine. It has given us simple, reliable and effective methods of treatment. Science made many dreadful diseases of past curable now. The invention of anaesthesia has brought great change in the field of surgery. Earlier people used to die on the surgery table due to excruciating pain but now, human body can be cut open without causing any pain. Plastic surgery which is an advanced form of surgery has made it possible to get the shape, features and size of our own choice. Science has been able to control both the death and the birth rate and has improved the health and life expectancy of human beings. Not to mention, it also accelerated the population growth leading to the present population related problems.
Science has revolutionized the world of communication. Today we can communicate from one corner of the world to the other just at the click of mouse. The vast world has turned into a minuscule global village. Thanks to science, it has reduced the distance between the countries and the culture too. With the development of different means of communication, the exchange of ideas took place giving birth to a new civilization, a global civilization. Latest information is shared and the updated information is loaded on the internet sites for the world. Sitting poles apart we can feel at home with the help of internet. At nominal charges, we can chat at length. Mobiles keep us connected. No doubt, these latest inventions of science have made the postal departments run for their money.
Science has fulfilled our needs and has given us the comforts and luxuries of life. It has bettered the standard of living. Today we don't have to bear extreme heat and cold. The air conditioner is there to cool us off. We can have the chilled water of the refrigerator to wet our throat. We don't have to walk miles to go anywhere. The cars and airplanes are there to take us to our destination in a few hours, no matter how far it is. Science has made our life worth living which was nothing but a struggle for survival in the past but at the same time, it has resulted in the death of lakhs of human beings due to its misuse. The invention of lethal guns, canons, fighter planes and warships has extended the range and extent of destruction. Today the terrorists can kill hundreds of people in a few seconds only due to science, which was not possible earlier with the use of bows, arrow and swords. Internet is used to communicate coded messages and display gruesome videos of grotesque murders.
The misuse of science is widespread but we cannot deny the fact that its use causes welfare of mankind and universal happiness. Perish or flourish, the choice is definitely ours.
