This week is Science Week and with a focus on curiosity and questioning, I wanted to learn more from my peers that take STEM A-Levels. Below are five things I have learnt from my research after taking a quote from each student below.
Sofia – “The probability of breathing one molecule of Julius Caesar’s last breath is 100%”
Although it sounds unlikely, and my first guess when asked was 0.3%, it is true that the probability of breathing one molecule of Julius Caesar’s last breath is 100%. Sam Kean famously said that “Across all that distance of time and space, a few of the molecules that danced inside his lungs are dancing inside yours right now.”
How this is possible – the probability is effectively 100% because when Julius Caesar died, his last breath contained roughly 25 sextillion molecules. In simple terms, over 2000 years, these molecules have mixed evenly throughout the entire atmosphere, meaning every breath you take contains approximately one molecule from that final exhale.
Lucy – “The block universe theory suggests that we exist in all moments – past, present, and future – simultaneously”
Every moment of your life is out there, somewhere, in space-time. Imagine the idea that the past, present, and future are layered. The block universe theory, or eternalism, proposes that we exist in a four-dimensional ‘block’ of spacetime. This view suggest that the passage of time is a subjective illusion, as all events are already determined and equally real.
This proposes the idea that we ultimately don’t have free will and the future isn’t in our control. Debates about the existence of free therefore arise from the theory as the future is already ‘written’ within the block, implying a deterministic universe.
Masha – “Enzymes can be used as molecular scissors.”
One of the foundational techniques in genetic engineering and biotechnology is to use enzymes to act as ‘molecular scissors’ to precisely cut DNA at targeted locations. These enzymes cut DNA, allowing researchers to remove, add or replace genetic material. This capability is transforming medicine, agriculture and scientific research as we speak by providing targeted solutions to previously incurable problems.
We can apply this to modern day issues like climate change, where gene editing, particularly using CRISPR-Cas9, enables the rapid development of climate-resilient crops and organisms by precisely altering DNA to withstand heat, drought, salinity and pests. In the future, this may allow for the faster development of climate-smart agricultural solutions.
Sara – “It is now 85 seconds to midnight.”
The Doomsday Clock measures how close the human race is to extinction in seconds, where ‘midnight’ is a marker of the ‘end of the world’. Founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer and University of Chicago scientists, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock using the idea of ‘midnight’ and the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion (countdown to zero) to convey threats to humanity and the planet.
According to the Doomsday Clock, it is now 85 seconds to midnight. The countdown continues as the world accelerates into a winner-takes-all great power competition which undermines the critical international cooperation that would reduce risks of nuclear war, climate change, the misuse of biotechnology and the potential threat of AI.
The Doomsday Clock is currently the closest it has ever been to catastrophe, symbolising the highest-ever danger of global catastrophe. The Bulletin cited a ‘failure of leadership’ regarding existential threats, noting that aggressive nationalism has superseded international cooperation.
The Doomsday Clock is designed as a warning, not a prediction, implying that global action can still reverse this trend.
Fara – “Consider a spherical cow”
Originating in theoretical physics, the spherical cow is a humorous metaphor for highly simplified scientific models of complex phenomena.
The origin of the ‘spherical cow’ metaphor derives from a farmer who wishes to increase dairy production on his farm and asks a physicist for advice. The solution that the physicist brings is “The first step is to get some spherical cows that can breed in a vacuum.”
This story is commonly used to suggest that physicist can make wildly unphysical assumptions when creating physical models, such as assuming cows are spherical. Physicists try to make models, but, they don’t have to be perfect models. “By making simplifying assumptions we can test if our understanding of the underlying physics is correct.”
I have learnt that there is power to be found in making things simpler, because they pave the road towards deeper understanding.
