Scientific Research is a Token of Humankind’s Survival: Vladimir Keillis-Borok

 

About the Author

 

Vladimir Keilis-Borok (1921-2913) born in Russia was, a UCLA seismologist and mathematical geophysicist who, along with his research team, developed a method intended to predict earthquakes months in advance.

 

He worked with other experts in pattern recognition, geodynamics, seismology, chaos theory, statistical physics and public safety to develop algorithms to detect precursory earthquake patterns.

 

In June 2003, the team predicted that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher would hit Japan in a region that included the island of Hokkaido by Dec. 28. On Sept. 25, approximately three months after it was predicted, a magnitude 8.1 quake struck Hokkaido.

 

 

He also used his mathematical theories to accurately predict the winner of the popular vote in each U.S. presidential election from 1984 to 2008 and even applied his techniques to predict murder-rate trends in Los Angeles, recessions, and the unemployment rate.

 

 

Summary

The essayist shows how scientists across the globe, rise above their national identities, to find solutions for common problems of nations. He begins by saying that though scientific involvement is not a money-making venture, scientists take to this path for the joy of freedom, camaraderie, and independence scientific discoveries offer to scientists.

He shares with the readers his experience during the cold war. He says that he was summoned by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences to go to Geneva to discuss a problem. The problem that posed danger to the whole of mankind was the fact that each of the three superpowers – the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom – possessed enough nuclear power that could wipe out the whole world. If one country sent a nuclear missile to the enemy country, the enemy country would know it immediately and retaliate by sending its own missile in the opposite direction.

It would take a minimum of 20 minutes for the missiles to hit the other nations. In the bargain, nations would destroy each other mutually and that is why the situation was described as MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction. In such a situation it was necessary that nations came together to sign a treaty pledging not to carry out nuclear tests. However, by signing the treaty alone the problem wouldn’t get solved as one of the nations could still carry out nuclear explosions even after signing a treaty that it wouldn’t. Though it was true that every explosion caused tremors, it was also true that natural earthquakes also caused tremors.

Then how could one decipher whether the tremor was the outcome of a natural disaster or nuclear explosion? It was to try and find an answer to this troubling question which was connected to the very survival of mankind that scientists belonging to the opposite sides of the Iron Curtain had to come together. The relieving feature was that though it was the height of the cold war in 1960, scientists exhibited the power of rational thinking by coming together as a large body of like-minded intellectuals interested in the question of the survival of mankind which depended on the decision of Nuclear Test Ban. This experience made the author conclude that science has the hope for the survival of mankind.

After talking about this particular experience, the author moves on to enumerating many more practical uses of scientific discoveries. He argues that though the common idea of scientists is that they are absent-minded intellectuals, their discoveries have the practical edge. Technology and industry stem from scientific research. Basic sciences have their application in different fields and hence are job-oriented.

The hope of science for the survival of mankind has larger significance also. In the present scenario the safety of mankind is threatened by both natural and man-made disasters. Be it a tsunami, be it terrorism, money alone cannot tackle the problem. Scientific solutions are the only hope. Thus the author has umpteen reasons to conclude that science is the hope of survival.

 

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

 

a.    What does a scientist get instead of big money?

In addition to honors and promotions, a scientist gets freedom, camaraderie, and independence, as also the overwhelming feeling of uncovering nature’s mysteries instead of big money.

 

b.    What was the problem that the nuclear powers had faced?

The problem faced by the nuclear powers was the possibility of breach of trust. Supposing nations sign a treaty banning nuclear explosions, and if one or the other nation breaks the bond, how would the other nations know about it? Thus the problem is both the violation of the agreement and the detection of it.

 

c.     In which area did Keilis Borok's theoretical knowledge have a direct application?

Keilis-Borok was doing research on the theory of seismic waves – tremors generated by an earthquake. Since underground nuclear explosions produced earth tremors very similar to those generated by earthquakes, it turned out that his knowledge of seismic waves had a direct application in the field of nuclear weapons or underground nuclear explosions. In other words, the author’s theoretical knowledge would be helpful in detecting the violation of the nuclear test ban agreement.

 

d. What was the important decision that the politicians took before Geneva Summit?

The important decision that the politicians took before the Geneva summit was “Nuclear Test Ban”.

d.    What are the natural and man-made disasters as mentioned by the author?

The very survival of our civilization is threatened by natural and man-made disasters. Among them are earthquakes, self-inflicted destruction of megacities, environmental catastrophes, economic and social crises. Today, a massive release of radioactivity from a nuclear waste disposal, an earthquake in the middle of a megalopolis, an outburst of mass violence, or any other global disaster, can cause up to a million of casualties, render a large part of our world uninhabitable, trigger global economic depression, or a war in a ‘hot’ region.

 

Reference to the context

 

a. The professional addressed as ‘you’ in the sentence “If you are clever, why are you so poor?” refers to a… 

i. lawyer 

ii. Doctor 

iii. scientist 

iv. businessman. 

Justify your choice.

 

The person referred to as ‘you’ and ‘clever’ is the scientist.

The writer intends to show that although scientists are very wise; their wisdom does not generally help them in generating wealth. That is, scientists are generally wise but not wealthy.

 

b. The writer says, “I found myself in Geneva.” What does it express?

The writer says “I found myself in Geneva”. It expresses, more than anything else, the writer’s surprise.

 

c. Are the following statements true? Why or why not? Discuss with your partner.

 

i. Money is more powerful than intellectual resources.

Money is more powerful than intellectual resources – False.

There is no assurance that money can buy everything. In fact, many problems are created by money. But intellectual resources, of which science is the most significant, can improve the quality of life.

 

ii. Intellectual resources help survival of the mankind.

Intellectual resources help the survival of mankind – True.

It is because of the intellectual resources that we have combated many diseases. Though man is not the fittest among all the creations of God, he is able to ensure his safety against the other powerful creatures of nature because of his intellectual resources. Basic research can help our survival by giving us new sources of energy and new mineral deposits. Basic research can also protect us against terrorism.

 

iii. Basic research is a way of stalling disasters.

Basic research is a way of stalling disasters – True.

Meteorologists study the ecological changes and forewarn people about natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, etc. People can be evacuated from the area posed with danger.

 

d. How does the essayist justify that scientific research is the humankind’s survival?

Keilis-Borok feels that only scientific research can create a springboard
for developing a new disaster-preparedness industry. Science is not the beginning and not the end either. If humanly used, it is their indispensable guardian and caretaker. In the present scenario the safety of mankind is threatened by both natural and man-made disasters. Be it a tsunami, be it terrorism, money alone cannot tackle the problem. Scientific solutions are the only hope. Thus the author has umpteen reasons to conclude that science is the hope of survival.

 

e. What can be the purpose of the essayist of using quotations in the essay?

The purpose of the essayist in using quotations in the essay is to present his argument more vigorously and make it reliable.  

 

f. Discuss and illustrate the writer’s stand that scientists are the most practical people in the world.

The writer places before the readers a number of examples from technology, industry, defense, and entertainment to show that scientists are the most practical people in the world. He says that all new technologies, all new brands of the industry from defense to entertainment stem from fundamental research. Antibiotics, electronics, biotechnology, synthetic fibers, the green revolution, and genetic forensic diagnosis are all taken by the writer as examples of scientists being practical.

 

Reference beyond the text

 

a. Everyone lives under the fear of annihilation by nuclear weapons. Explain this statement.

The superpowers – the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom had more than enough nuclear bombs to destroy the others in the first strike. Hence every man, woman, and child on the earth lived under the threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons. These superpowers were willing to come to an agreement to face this threat.

 

b. The essayist says ‘While there is science, there is the hope of survival and wellbeing for all of us.’ Explain it.

In 1960, at the height of the cold war, the writer was summoned by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences to go to Geneva to discuss a problem. The problem that posed danger to the whole of mankind was the fact that each of the superpowers possessed enough nuclear power that could wipe out the whole world. In such a situation it was necessary that nations came together to sign a treaty pledging not to carry out nuclear tests. However, by signing the treaty alone, the problem couldn’t be solved as one of the nations could still carry out nuclear explosions even after signing a treaty.

Though it was true that every explosion caused tremors, it was also true that natural earthquakes also caused tremors. Then how could one decipher whether the tremor was the outcome of a natural disaster or nuclear explosion? It was to try and find an answer to this question which was connected to the very survival of mankind that scientists belonging to the opposite sides of the Iron Curtain had to come together. Though it was the height of the cold war, scientists exhibited the power of rational thinking by coming together as a large body of like-minded intellectuals interested in the question of the survival of mankind. This experience made the writer conclude that science has the hope for the survival of mankind.

 

c. Is science a blessing or a curse? Write an essay on it.

 

Science- A Blessing or a Curse

Science has revolutionized human existence. Much of the progress that mankind has made in different fields right from the stone age to the modern age is due to the progress made in the field of science. Not only material progress but also the mental outlook of man has been influenced by it. It has made man’s life more comfortable. Agriculture, business, transport, communication, and medicine to name a few are all highly indebted to the wonders science has produced.

Electricity is one of the greatest wonders of modern science. It is a source of energy. It can run any type of machinery. With the help of electricity, we can light our rooms run buses and trains, and lift water for irrigation.

The discovery and development of a large number of powerful energy sources coal, petroleum, natural gas, electricity, etc. have facilitated the growth of fast modes of transport and communication, which in turn have changed the world into a global village. Science has given man the means of traveling cars, trains, ships, etc. Man has even traveled to the moon. Faster means of transport can be utilized for sending food grains to victims of famine or epidemics across the globe, for transporting armed men for fighting in distant places.

Science has benefited agriculture too. The food production levels and quality have improved. Soil analysis, hybrid verities of crops, fertilizers, pesticides, advanced tools, and machinery, improved irrigation methods, etc. have all contributed to the increase of the production of crops.

Today we have meteorological satellites in outer space sending data and pictures to earth stations helping agriculture scientists find and analyze soil patterns. They also help them trace the progress of rain winds and even locusts that endanger crops. Satellites can even forewarn natural calamities like hurricanes which cause mass destruction.

Man with the help of science has been able to increase longevity, arrest the gradual decay of the human body and control the spread of lethal diseases by making extraordinary life-prolonging drugs and medicines. Diseases like tuberculosis and many kinds of cancer which were considered fatal a few decades ago are no longer incurable.

One of the biggest achievements of science is in the field of entertainment. Leisure management industry, with television shows, music concerts and films is emerging as the largest and the most important industry in the twenty-first-century satellite television has made it possible for millions of people to watch sporting and entertainment events taking place in different parts of the world simultaneously.

Information technology and computer have revolutionized our lifestyle. Automation in banks and railway stations has provided relief to the public and staff alike. Ticketing and reservation have become more efficient and convenient. In medical diagnosis, computers are used to locate and investigate accurately and reservations have become more efficient convenient. In medical diagnosis, computers are used to locate and investigate accurately and precisely any abnormalities or diseases. The internet has some very useful applications in our day-to-day life. Mobile phones are the outcome of information technology. But at the same time, it cannot be denied that the boon in many cases has turned out to be the bane. There are innumerable examples that prove that science a blessing has been turned into a curse.

Sir Alfred Nobel used dynamite to clear huge mountains to turn it into productive lands. But modern man uses it to kill his fellow human beings and destroy nature. It is a fact that much of the national income of a developing country is spent on acquiring the latest weapons, bombs, and missiles. Guns, revolvers, tanks, and fighter planners’ explosives nuclear bombs, etc were invented to develop a strong security system to protect the innocent masses, but their misuse is now crushing humanity. Apart from atomic weapons man has also started stockpiling biological and chemical weapons. These weapons are equally dangerous.

Biotechnology is a great boon for fighting disease. But along with medicines lethal biological weapons have also been developed. Germs are deliberately released into the air to spread diseases. Anthrax envelopes are used for spreading terrorism.

The negative effects of the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides used to increase yield are now evident. Soil salinity has increased. Traces of DDT are found in plants.

The power of the internet is also being abused through unhealthy practices such as the widespread use of pornographic materials. Lots of people spend their time in chat rooms for obscene discussions.

Science has two faces good and bad. It depends on us which face we want to see. If we use the gifts of science in a positive manner with positive intention and in a positive direction it will benefit mankind, but if we misuse it, it will prove harmful to all. To save ourselves and the world as a whole from destruction, we should use the gifts of science properly.