Science
Tycho Brahe used the concept of a parallax to figure out whether a star that suddenly appeared in the sky in 1572 was close to Earth or much farther away. He thought that if he looked at the star’s position at one time, and checked it again twelve hours later he could find out whether or not the star was close.
Aristarchus believed that the Sun was the very center of the universe. He formed the earliest known
Heliocentric Cosmology to explain the retrograde motion of the planets. He proposed that the Earth
and all the planets revolve around the Sun, which is then the center of the Universe. His cosmology
explained the retrograde motion more simply than geocentric cosmology. In heliocentric cosmology
the retrograde motion of the planets happens when Earth overtakes them in its own orbit. Aristarchus’
heliocentric cosmology is not quite right however, because the stars do not orbit the Sun. The Sun, and
all of the planets and moons orbiting it actually orbit the center of our galaxy.
Nabta was an ancient structure that was built in the eqyptian desert. It is said to have been built at least
6,000 years ago (different sources say anywhere from 6,000 to 11,000 years) which would mean that
it is even older than Stonehenge. It was built to predict the summer solstice and other astronomical
events. One of the first examples of an astronomical calendar, it was made up of a 4 meter circle of flat
stones with four pairs of tall thin stones set directly across from each other, creating two windows on
the horizon. Some of the stones still remain standing next to a basin, or playa that was once a shallow
lake.
The Zhou bi suan jing is a ancient collection of Chinese writings about astronomy and mathematics. It was started during the Zhou dynasty which began in the 11th century B.C., but astronomers continued to add to and change it all the way into the Han dynasty(2nd century B.C. ). It includes their measurements of the night skies, and also calculations for their calendar. During that time it was the job of royal astronomers to find organization and order in the stars, because if anything on earth or in the sky was not in order it was seen as a sign that the Emperor had failed in some way.
Some people are very scared of DNA sequencing and the possible ethical problems that could arise. I agree that there are some applications for misuse of DNA sequencing that could lead to an increase in selective births or abortions based on pre-natal sequencing. It is also possible that DNA sequencing could be used to choose to euthanize the elderly or disabled based on cost analysis of the potential risks of disease and the cost of treatment of those diseases. I urge our society to fight hard against those who have a utilitarian view of life and the value of an individual’s life is only computed based on its impact on the group as a whole. However, all of these worst case scenarios are not the basis on which we should choose to support DNA sequencing. In the past people warned that pursuing organ transplant would lead to full blown black market of body parts and mass killing of the poor and under privileged. We have seen cases of that but our society is still outraged and those guilty of such crimes are apprehended and prosecuted for their heinous crimes. The same can be true for almost any advancement in technology or science that it can be used for evil if society as a whole doesn’t prevent it.
DNA Sequencing
DNA sequencing works to show the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, , cytosine,guanine, and thymine—in the molecules of DNA. The illustration above shows that as the bases come off the slide the light signs through them and they are identified by how the light is refracted by each base thereby identifying the dna sequencing.
