Why does exploring the universe have a direct impact on human life?
When it comes to NASA, what you think in your head will be the spacecraft or the rocket launchers. However, their work actually has many benefits close to the Earth and the people living on this common roof.
More than missiles
We live in an extraordinary world. Only this year, scientists have made important strides in the creation of artificial uterus, the first human embryo correction in the US and closer to the goal of human organ development in the body of pigs. . Although these amazing achievements will shape the future of mankind, there are still problems at the present time that we cannot ignore.
About 2.1 billion people do not have clean water to use; more than 1.7 million children die each year from environmental pollution; and globally, 795 million people do not have enough food to live a healthy life.
These are very bad statistics. But do you know what's worse? That's the money needed to solve those problems. The World Food Program estimates that US $ 3.2 billion is needed to save 66 million school-aged children. NASA's own science budget was $ 5 billion. You suddenly see a solution: instead of investing towards the universe, why don't we solve the immediate problems more practical?
If selected, will you choose a temporary or permanent solution?
It seems that placing funds for organizations like NASA is wrong, but in fact, it's the exact opposite. NASA is the world's main source of information about how our planet Earth works. NASA director Robert M. Lightfoot Jr in an interview with Futurism explained that exploring and studying the universe directly connects to the rise of humanity.
The work on the International Space Station (ISS) is just one example. According to Mr. Lightfoot, ISS is "of the Earth and of the Earth". As a way to emphasize the relationship between studying the universe and the future of mankind, he said: "The water filtration systems we use on ISS - we took a modified version and send them to third-world countries, and they can actually use the chemical filtration systems we use. We do so many things. "
He did not exaggerate when saying "a lot". Michelle Thaller, Assistant Director at NASA's Goddard Space Center, gave another example when interviewing Futurism:
"We have satellites capable of measuring groundwater levels. We see the water is running out in places like Northwest India, and the people here don't have clean water for reasons either. We can tell people where the drought or drinking water problem will be. "
Turns out, to be able to confirm whether we have water to drink, we need science. We need a space program.
The investment of the world
NASA not only worries about each water source; The organization also focuses on food safety, climate science, and more. They are deploying 110 scientific tasks at the same time with a budget of $ 5 billion. This number seems a lot, but according to Thaller, "no organization in the world can do more effectively. Yes, it's an investment. That's a $ 5 billion investment that Earth and the world has done ".
Organizations like NASA are humanity's hope.
And that investment is bringing "sweet fruit" . In fact, it saves lives. For example, in the 1980s of the last century, it was a NASA satellite that discovered the beginning of the ozone hole.
"It's just a purely scientific task," Thaller said. "It's not about finding the hole in the ozone layer. We found it and realized we were destroying the ozone layer of the Earth. "We ran to the United Nations. As a result, they signed the Montreal Protocol and completely banned the chemicals that caused this incident . "
If NASA does not detect the ozone hole, humans will cause serious damage in 2060. "It will be the end of the world today. We will not have agriculture. We will can't leave Earth in 2060 ".
Thaller said, when asked about "spinoffs" (NASA's technological achievements are directly benefiting the Earth in the form of commercial products), people often think of personal computers, electricity. Mobile phones and other devices. What about her? "My favorite accomplishment is that everyone on this planet will have grandchildren."
- 10 unbelievable discoveries in the universe
- Human corpses can incubate the germ of life in the universe
- 10 unknown things about life in the universe
- Can life really exist in the 2D universe?
- Can aliens live without water?
- Entering the universe 'dark'
- 10 astronomical photos accompany the years
- The universe in human thinking through the ages
- Ranking hot spots of human impact on coastal areas
- Why would we not be able to fly out into space if the diameter of the Earth increased by 50%?
- Research reproduces the process of forming life in the universe
- Great discoveries about the universe are unknown (1)