Modern Miracles in Science

Think science is boring? Think again! Today’s scientific pursuits go far beyond the memorization of period charts. Today’s science creates miracles.

Pioneers in Medicine

Imagine the excitement Jonas Salk felt when he realized that he had discovered a way to prevent polio. This incurable disease struck children with ruthless abandon, killing thousands and leaving thousands of others permanently disabled. Yet as much as parents feared polio, they feared exposing their children to the vaccine even more. Jonas Salk first vaccinated himself, his wife, and his children before offering the vaccine for a public trial. The results were miraculous.

Fast-forward to today’s medical research. Building on the discoveries of their predecessors, today’s scientists scrutinize the structure of human DNA, looking for that one gene or that one sequence that can be altered to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many other diseases. Already, scientists have used this knowledge to identify the gene that predisposes one towards obesity and the sequence that predisposes one towards alcoholism.

Pioneers in Technology

In the iconic Back to the Future movies, the mad scientist invents a time-travel machine using a car. Eventually, his machine is powered by garbage – banana peels and such.

Fast-forward to today’s technological research. A wide range of alternative fuels powers today’s cars. Natural gas vehicles are economical and environmentally friendly. Hybrid vehicles combine traditional gasoline power with electricity to create a fuel-efficient and affordable car. All-electric vehicles are rising in popularity as technological breakthroughs make them a viable alternative to their gas-guzzling cousins. When one stops to consider that, only one hundred years ago, horses were more common than horseless carriages, modern transportation methods are a miracle.

Pioneers in Engineering

In the classic cartoon, The Jetsons, Rosie is the lovable housekeeper – who also happens to be a large robot.

Fast-forward to today’s robotics. Engineering research paved the way for a variety of applications regarding robotics. Robots that serve food and drinks are almost passé compared with the robots that assist surgeons during life-saving procedures. Ask anyone who has benefited from robotic surgery – it is truly miraculous.