Chapter: The Nature of Science

Section 3: Science, Technology, and Engineering

Section 1: What is science?

Section 2: Doing Science

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Scientific Discoveries

• New discoveries constantly lead to new products that influence your lifestyle or standard of living.

• In the last 100 years, technological advances have enabled environments to move from live stage shows to large movie screens.

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Scientific Discoveries

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• Now, DVDs enable users to choose a variety of options while viewing a movie.

Technological Advances• Technology also makes your life more

convenient. • Foods can be prepared quickly in microwave

ovens, and hydraulic tools make construction work easier and faster.

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• New discoveries influence other areas of your life as well, including your health.

• A disease might be controlled by a skin patch that releases a constant dose of medicine into your body.

Science—The Product of Many• New scientific knowledge can mean that

old ways of thinking or doing things are challenged.

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• Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, classified living organisms into plants and animals. Click image to view movie.

Science—The Product of Many• This system worked until new tools, such

as the microscope, enabled scientists to study organisms in greater detail.

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• The new information changed how scientists viewed the living world.

• The current classification system will be used only as long as it continues to answer questions scientists have or until a new discovery enables them to look at information in a different way.

Who practices science?

• Scientific discoveries have never been limited to people of one race, sex, culture, or time period, or to professional scientists.

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• In fact, students your age have made some important discoveries.

Use of Scientific Information

• Science provides new information every day that people use to make decisions.

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• However, science cannot decide whether the new information is good or bad, moral or immoral.

• People decide whether the new information is used to help or harm the world and its inhabitants.

Looking to the Future

• Today’s scientists use cellular phones and computers to communicate with each other.

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• This information technology has led to the globalization, or worldwide distribution, of information.

Looking to the Future• The Internet quickly spreads word of new

discoveries.

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• New knowledge and technology brought about by these discoveries are shared by people in all countries.

• Any information gathered from the Internet must be checked carefully for accuracy.

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Question 1_______ technology has led to the globalization, or worldwide distribution, of information.

AnswerThe answer is information. Computers and cell phones are common and convenient methods used to communicate worldwide.

NC: 2.02

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Question 2

Which is NOT true of scientific discoveries?

A. they make life more convenientB. they make life more difficultC. they help people lead healthier livesD. they challenge old ways of thinking or doing things

NC: 2.03

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Answer

The answer is B. New discoveries constantly lead to new products that influence your lifestyle or standard of living.

NC: 2.03

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Question 3

Scientific discoveries are limited by _______.

A. cultureB. raceC. sexD. none of the above

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Answer

The answer is D. Scientific discoveries have never been limited to people of one race, sex, culture, or time period.