Rise of Anti-science

I recently stumbled upon a promotional website for a book titled “Unscientific America” [1]. I read the material presented in the promotional website and the websites that reviewed the book “Unscientific America”[3-4]. In this post views of authors and reviewers are summarized and presented.

At the time of World War II (1939-1945), scientists were regarded as superstars. Their contribution was very vital for war machinery and in turn paved way to victory. Over the decades the disenchantment with science proliferated among the public. Scientists were unaware of this phenomenon and went on business as usual [3].

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a non-profit society having distinguished scientists as its members. It was created by act of Congress (American parliament) and the draft was signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It functions as an advisory board to America in the matters of science and technology. NAS has produced a report titled “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” in 2005. In that it has acknowledged the erosion of America’s supremacy in science and Technology. Dramatic increase in science students is offered as a solution to stem the erosion.

Theme of Unscientific America’ revolves around decline in science and technology temper and its consequences. Authors of the book lament that the urgent problems of current century need science-based solutions. But science illiteracy or dislike is increasing as decades passes by. For example only one minute is devoted to science out of five hour news reporting [1]. Over the decades the size of science weekly sections in newspaper has shrunken by two-thirds. Around 46 percentage of Americans deny evolution. Above examples is tip of the iceberg in anti-science stand.

Benefits of Engaging with Public

Science helps us to understand the world around us. Next, science can be used for specific problems (like extending the shelf life of vegetables and meat, making smokeless stove etc). Science cannot solve problems that has significant human influence. Problems like malnutrition, corruption and poverty are classic examples.

Application of science has produced many useful things to human beings. One such thing is vaccination technique. Using vaccination dreaded diseases like diphtheria, small pox and polio can be prevented from occurring. Thereby improving the human being's living conditions. But there is resistance to use  vaccination due to misinformation (fraudulent research publications [1], public apathy towards government [2]). A research paper appeared in Lancet journal linking autism and vaccination use. Subsequent research finding proved that vaccination has no bearing on autism [1]. Anyway the misinformation reached the public well than the subsequent research finding.

Nowadays affluent people prefer 'Organic farm produce' rather than produce enriched by chemical fertilizer. The problem is not chemical fertilizers but over use of fertilizers by ill trained farmers. But, public blame science for spoiling the agricultural lands and food.  So, it becomes imperative for scientists to communicate with common people and debunk the misinformation they hold.

Science of Blur

A picture professionally shot will convey a message or concept. Professionals shoot in such a way that selected portions of photo is unsharp (blur). Normally viewers will stay away from blurred portions and keep their focus of attention on sharp portions of photo. Thus, photographers' decide what the viewers should see and how the photo is interpreted.

In this post, we will discuss about science of blur image formation. We have studied in our childhood, a convex lens will bend the rays. So, parallel (collimated) rays entering the convex lens will get bent and converge into a point. That point is called is 'focal point'. The distance between the centre of lens and the focal point is called 'focal length'.

Figure 1. Science of Blur explaining through scenario

​‌Role of Lens in Light Capture

A device that captures the light is Camera. Shutter, lens and film are the essential component in a camera. In digital camera film is replaced by CCD or CMOS sensor array. Shutter decides the quantum of light falling on the film.  Top layer of film is made up light sensitive granules. When film is exposed to light, granules get oxidized with respect to intensity of light. The exposed film is chemically washed to make negative film. The negatives are used to create photos. The sensitivity of film is described using ISO number. Higher the number results in more sensitivity towards light.

Lens plays a dominant role in determining the cost and quality of camera. Lion share of camera cost is attributed to lens. Professional photographers will have lenses ranging from 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm up to 200 mm. But, one can take photos without lens. The statement may evoke surprise but it is a fact. A camera without lens is called 'Pin Hole Camera'. The construction of the camera is simple. Take a rectangular metal or wooden box. Place a film in one side of the box and close it. Make a very small hole on the other side. This hole is technically called as aperture.  Via aperture, light from outside scene (say tree) falls on the film and an inverted image is formed. After getting sufficient exposure to light the aperture has to be closed with a shutter. Otherwise due to over exposure film will be washed out.

Photography: Confluence of Physics and Art

The word 'photography' made of two Greek root words 'photo' and 'graph'. Photo means light and graph means drawing and together means "drawing with light." Capturing light using camera is a technology but conveying a message via captured light is an art.  Photographers (invariably from non-science background) use the camera to take stunning visuals. The science behind the photographic technology is called optics. Optical scientists and photographers are two sides of same coin. Both of them explain their side very beautifully. A unified view if provided will help the general public to grasp both sides easily. 

  Camera captures the reflected light from the subject (human being, animal or object of interest). The light may have originated from Sun or artificial light source. The reflected light is channelized via opaque diaphragm with an aperture (a small hole). Present day digital camera with aid of lens, (actually multi-lens arrangement) makes the light to fall on to the two-dimensional array of light sensors. The sensor may be made up of CMOS and CCD technology. Light sensors convert the light into electrical signals and given to Analog-to-Digital converters to provide digital output. This raw digital data is compressed and stored as JPEG image file. The JPEG file can be viewed on a screen present in the camera or can be transferred to computer for further processing.