CHAPTER 1 SCIENCE IN OUR WORLD umans incessantly explore experiment create and examine the world The active process by which physical biological and social phe nomena are studied is known as science Individuals involved in science called OOrone Hale watche Latest status 4 tonewatch gsc nasa gov Q AND National Aeronautics and Space Administration ASA Goddard Space Flight Center Ozone Hole Watchtmages data and information for the Southern Hemisphere Ozone Maps Meteorology Ozone Facts Multimedia Education 2 March 2014 View the latest status of the ozone layer over the Antarctic with a focus on the ozone hole Satellite instruments monitor the ozone layer and we use their data to create the images that depict the amount of ozone Click any map image to bring up a new page with a high resolution image ot Mar Latest news The largest ozone hole 24 September 2008 High resolution TIFF 26 Feb Animations 360x240 720x486 1280x720 Daily 2013 27 Feb mpimpimpi mpg mpg mp4 mp4 mph mpg mpg March 1979 2014 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA keeps a close watch on the ozone layer in our atmosphere via satellite imagery which it then color codes In this March 2014 view of the Antarctic pole blue shows areas with the least ozone NASA Ozone Watch 12
SCIENCE IN OUR WORLD scientists often spend their entire lives in pursuit of answers to probing questions This ongoing process often leads to new areas of scientific inquiry Although many areas of scientific inquiry are interrelated specific scientific disciplines or divisions have been established The sci ences can be broadly divided into two main areas the natural sciences and the social sci ences The natural sciences comprise the physical sciences earth and space sciences and life sciences the social sciences encom pass disciplines that deal with social and cultural aspects of human behavior such as economics sociology and psychology Some scientists are driven by little more than the desire to learn They may study to gain knowledge for its own sake These sci entists are engaged in basic or pure science Their projects may or may not have any rel evance to everyday life Scientists working in applied science on the other hand usually have a specific goal in mind This goal may involve a product process business or other human need An applied scientist often uses information recently gathered by other scien tists as well as the cumulative knowledge of the pure sciences 13
SCIENCE Its HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SCIENCE IN SOCIETY Science plays a major role in society and even nonscientists can appreciate scientific progress Because of science human under standing of the past present and future is constantly in a state of flux For instance decades ago the notion of identifying the entire genetic code of an organism would have seemed an impossible feat Today it is a mark of scientific progress Because sci entific inquiry never ceases to exist events once dismissed as material for science fic tion such as medical therapy based on an individual's genetic makeup now seem inevitable Science technology can be found in nearly all aspects of everyday life For instance if electricity had never been discovered elec tric appliances heaters and lights would not exist Electronic components found in radios television sets laptop computers and cellular telephones are now smaller and more reliable than before Advances in electronics are respon sible for what is called the digital age Through computer technology information can be pro cessed and communicated globally in seconds 14
SCIENCE IN OUR WORLD At one time computers were extremely expensive They were rarely found outside of laboratories and large businesses Since their manufacture is now economical computers and computer based devices have become very com mon Computers are used not only in offices for all kinds of essential business functions and in schools and universities for study and research they are also used in the home for communica tion entertainment and many other purposes Many people carry portable computer based cellular telephones Computers help oper ate many processes and systems crucial to modern life includ ing electric power grids communication networks financial markets and air traffic control facilities In physics the dis covery and control of nuclear energy has had a tremendous effect on international relations The Apple iPad Mini is one of the growing array of tablet and on the economies computers Today a large variety of computers used in offices homes parks or about anywhere provide a of many countries in world of instantaneous information entertainment and communication to millions of users worldwide Sean Gallup Getty Images News Thinkstock 15
