Gabriela Linares

Innovations in science have affected human life since the discovery of the wheel. To the same effect degree, humans uses of these innovations have inturn affected these such advancements. Scientific innovations have generally advanced our society, making us faster and more efficient. On the other hand, some innovations have crippled the world we live in. Sometimes advancements in science can exist and act with no other technology; other times they require constant updates and additional technology to operate efficiently. All of these factors depend on the type of science innovated, but all occur with one innovation or another. For example, innovations in nuclear energy have both impacted society and been impacted by the intentions of society when considering its uses. Society initially decided that nuclear energy would be used as war time advancement in developing the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb therefore impacted the lives of people living during WWII. The Japanese war efforts were completely altered, practically taking them out of the war, halting their efforts to take over Asia and expand to the west and ending WWII. American lives were changed as all threats to their territory virtually ceased. Years later the entire world would be in fear of a nuclear war as the Soviet Union and the United States raced to nuclear arms in the Cold War. Nowadays, the use of nuclear energy is seen as an alternative fuel source. This impacts past advancements in the use of oil and fossil fuels, changing their industries completely. Similarly, it changes the speed at which society attempts to create means for renewable and completely clean energy sources. But the decision to ignore safety regulations in an effort to gain a quicker energy supply has put thousands of lives at risk, most notably in Russia and Japan, but potentially all over the world. Therefore, the innovation of nuclear energy has altered the fate of society,

strengthening some world powers and weakening others. The decision of those world powers has determined how these innovations are used, thus repeating the cycle. Another example is global networking. This is brought on by a series of advancements in society from the computer, the Internet and various other communication devices. Therefore it created a chain of innovations, each impacting the other. Global networking has impacted our economy as well as our social life. Now, business and commerce can progress across the globe with transactions occurring across entire continents. In some ways this can help boost countries that would have difficulty conducting business across the world. On the other hand, smaller, local businesses lose work to larger corporations overseas. Countries look outward for cheaper business before looking in their own backyard. Consequently, global networking is the result of numerous innovations impacting society by creating a form to connect with anyone in the world who owns a computer, but leaves those who cant afford to network as effectively on the outside. It allows some to thrive and expand while others decrease into virtual or literal inexistence. The influences of science becomes a little more complicated when discussing matters like psychiatric medication for children. Advances in medicine have enabled us to discover treatments for mental disabilities once considered pure insanity. Now we can treat mood, conduct, anxiety, attention and other disorders that we knew nothing about a few decades ago. However, the latest breakthrough in science has allowed for children, with undeveloped brains, to undergo this same treatment. Therefore, advancements in science have helped treat adults, but have unfortunately made some children the victims of overtreatment. Further research has shown that treatment to correct an underdeveloped brain makes no sense for children because their minds wont be fully developed until the age of 26. Also, treatments can be given that mask symptoms of more serious diseases and the children unfortunately go untreated. However,

more research is being done concerning psychiatric medication for children that may reverse the concept that the same medicine for adults can be used for children. Consequently, these advancements in medicine have helped most adults and harmed most children, yet further research and advancement may additionally help both. In relation to this advancement in medicine, choosing the modernized Western medicine over more traditional Eastern medicine is fairly complicated. Advances in Westernized medicine has helped to treat major diseases like pneumonia, tuberculosis, cancer, and other diseases that were considered complete death sentences. It has also advanced surgical methods limiting the damage done from previous treatments. On the other hand however, when considering treating minor ailments like aches and pain, some may argue that we are too dependent on Western medication. Eastern methods call for simple methods like meditation and breathing practices. Eastern medication consists of natural herbs. Studies show that more people will reach for their Tylenol, Advil and the like before simply taking a moment to close their eyes and just breathe when they have an ache or pain. The Eastern methods have shown to have the same effects of medication, especially for simple ailments. In these cases, advances have saved countless lives and have improved procedures, but at times have created a societal dependence on medications that can create unnecessary side-effects. Humans are superior to all other creatures on Earth because we have the physical and mental ability to manipulate technology and therefore science in order to become even more advanced. Furthermore, societies which choose to become more modernized have advantages over other societies. Every advancement is made with either the intention to do good or harm and as these advancements expand further, the roles can be reversed. Nevertheless, while

humans are influencing the progression of scientific advancements, those scientific advancements are affecting the progression of humanity.