Sandra Dunham
Gosh I love science and all of the things it can do! Nothing gets me more revved up than hearing about the latest scientific breakthroughs. I read them, and then I begin to imagine the excitement of discussing these things with friends, of sharing something new and exciting and revolutionary. Sometimes I can just barely hold back long enough to fact check. Most of the time, I’m happy I fact checked and disappointed to learn that the scientific breakthrough is a hoax, or perhaps just half true.
Take the case of bioluminescent trees which can be used to replace streetlights. Wow! Revolutionary! But the niggling of my conscience made me look further and what I learned was that scientists had attempted this and were successful in producing “a plant that gave off a faint glow.” The project was abandoned when it ran out of money. I’m still hoping that there will be a breakthrough in the future, but the social media post I saw was completely untrue.
I recall my son sharing information with me about solar roadways. These solar panel paved roadways were an amazing idea. Not only would they produce solar power, but they would melt the snow, reducing the need for plowing and salting and they would illuminate the road markings, making driving safer. However, a bit of research also dashed these hopes. Solar panels are too costly to manufacture and maintain, the energy it takes to produce asphalt solar panels take more energy to produce than they save, driving on the roadways would block most of the sun from reaching the panels, and the dirt left behind by vehicular travel would further reduce the amount of sun reaching the panels. And finally, driving on glass produces some safety challenges for vehicles. Ecowatch concludes by admitting that advances in solar technology may make these panels viable for niche applications in the future, but a widespread use of solar panel roadways remains just a dream.
Without a doubt there are many scientific breakthroughs that radically change the world for the better. Golden Rice may save many children in impoverished situations from going blind. Research provides some information that may assist in reducing obesity. Fecal transplants are an effective treatment for Clostridium difficile. And we are all aware of the role science played during the COVID-19 pandemic in identifying the virus, providing information to assist in slowing the spread of the disease, and in creating vaccinations.
Next time you read about a scientific breakthrough that is really exciting, check before you share.
I am all ears when there is a report on a breakthrough in curing or preventing dementia. But after checking the news with the Canadian Alzheimer Society, their answers are typically, “Not a proven breakthrough, although it’s an encouraging development.” [Sigh]