An ode to chemistry

WE all know how important science is in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by mankind. Yet many of us shirk anything that looks even a bit like science or scientific method. It is too complicated, way beyond our mental capacity. The magic word to enter the world of science is an abstract formula too daunting to attempt to learn. The result of such thinking is that our children and children's children are deprived of the opportunity to study, appreciate and explore science. This translates to lost opportunities for individuals as well as for the entire nation, which seems to prefer to hobble along a path of pageantry and politics.

There isn't necessarily anything wrong with pageantry and politics, but like in a chemical formulation, there should be a balance of ingredients. The Titanic sank so fast because its steel hull became "abnormally brittle and less impact-resistant" in the freezing water, contributing "to the size of the hole and the rapid sinking of the ship" (Capital Steel blog, 2012). The steel contained too much sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus, and too little manganese, nitrogen and silicon, making it 10 times more brittle than the steel used on modern ships.