Science and technology will forever be linked. As technology advances, so too will our ability to better understand science. Something as simple as the integrated circuit has allowed us to create computers capable of modeling advanced systems of nature like weather.
The converse is also true. As our understanding of science evolves, new technologies will arise. The current limitation of 6nm for processor transistors, which is where quantum tunneling begins to be a problem, will be overcome by a better understanding of the natural universe.
Science’s mutual partnership with technology has a few other unique intricacies that will dictate how science evolves in the future. Let’s examine some of those details.
Smaller and Cheaper Experiments
One of the major changes that technology has brought to science is the ability to conduct experiments for less. Computers and other components have reduced greatly in size, which has reduced their cost while further reducing how much space they require in laboratories.
This reduction in cost has allowed more people to have access to scientific experiments. More people testing hypotheses makes for a larger amount of varied scientific advancements.
Crowdfunding
Advancements in science have come primarily as a result of government funding. This is why NASA is credited with making many of the technological marvels we have today possible.
Projects that were financially unviable may have been overlooked. This is where crowdfunding enters to support the evolution of science.
Crowdfunding has allowed “garage engineers” to create new implementations of technology. Some crowdfunded projects, such as the Garden of ETON hydroponics garden, offer an outstanding insights into the natural universe.
Independent Scientists
Another astounding change that technology has brought to the realm of science is the independent scientist. This is the individual whom performs experiments on everything from biology to quantum physics in his or her garage.
The ability for these scientists to conduct research has been made possible by items like digital microscopes. You can learn about digital microscopes to understand their importance to the independent scientist.
A Greater Interest in Science
Technology has allowed the common person to acquire access to as much knowledge as he or she could ever need through the Internet and computers. This simple enabling has revolutionized the way people interact with science.
For example, consider how much time it takes for one scientific discovery to be published in written media. It must be accepted, verified repeatedly, then the media must be printed. This could delay a discovery as much as a few months.
The Internet allows for an incredibly rapid distribution of information. Scientists can validate another scientist’s findings while the average person can learn about these findings through online media outlets.
Cutting-edge discoveries generate a large amount of interest in scientific topics. This allows everyone from school children to senior citizens to learn about new and exciting scientific facts, which they support by displaying an interest in these topics or even conducting research to advance them.
Predicting Where Science Will Evolve
The changes brought about by new technologies are more numerous than could be listed here, so it’s important to understand that the fact that technology has made science more available to the common person. This has heightened the ability for individuals and groups to conduct new experiments and research for less money.
The evolution of science will likely lead to a place where the individual collaborates in home labs across the country with other researchers. Funding for such projects may be derived from crowdfunding, which is supported by a greater public interest in science.
The major breakthroughs that shake our understanding of science will occur in these new styles of labs rather than large corporate laboratories or government-funded facilities. These are the changes that will allow both technology and science to evolve in ways never seen before.
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