1. 6.1 Science and Environment
Key Concepts
6.1
Science and Environment

2. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
Researchers made rapid advances in science that spread throughout the world, assisted by the development of new technology.
New modes of communication and transportation virtually eliminated the problem of geographic distance.
Phone 1876
1965 (Really!)
Car 1886
Plane 1903
New scientific paradigms transformed human understanding of the world.
The theory of relativity
Quantum mechanics
The Big Bang theory
Psychology

3. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles… (And Phones and Email)
Technological Development becomes exponentially rapid in the 20th Century and Beyond:
Between
Communication becomes instantaneous. Phone, Radio, …Etc.
Transportation changes from horsepower to motor power (you’d be surprised how long the use of horses last)
T = d/v (as velocities increase the time needed to travel a given distance decreases)
Cars, Trucks, Planes, and Improvements made

4. The Theory of Relativity
Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity (E=mc² Being one of the most recognized equations in the world) Had several applications both tangible and philosophical:
Tangible: Nuclear energy production and synchronization of the global positioning system (GPS) satellites around the earth.
Philosophical: His theories of relativity were used to turn moral philosophy upside-down. Relativity fueled postmodernism and philosophic relativism.
Prior to relativity, philosophers such as Aristotle, Kant, and Mill argued that there was an absolute truth and an absolute way of approaching various aspects of life.
With relativity: facts are no longer absolute, but instead dependent upon your viewpoint. Right and wrong now vary from person-to-person.
This philosophical argument is not always accepted by the laws and social norms humanity has produced.

5. Quantum Mechanics!
While the College Board will not test you on the application of Quantum Mechanics…which your instructor is woefully unqualified to teach…Bazinga!
You should know that the impact of scientific observation and theorization of modern physics which began in the 19th Century takes a more concrete form in the 20th.
Transistors, Semiconductors, and Lasers.

6. The Big Bang Theory
Credited to a Belgian Catholic Priest in 1927: Monseigneur Georges Lemaître.
Based on work of Einstein and others
Transformed human understanding of the world/universe
Theory is that the universe is constantly expanding and originated from a single dense mass.
Impact: The impact of the Big Bang Theory on the discourse between “Science” & “Religion” continues to be felt:
Implication of a Divine Creator?

7. Psychology
Psychology: The study of mental functions and behaviors is not new to the 20th Century, but made some of the disciplines major breakthroughs.
Psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud: Id, Ego, Superego, Repression, Sexuality, & Dream Theory…
While the College Board will not specifically test you on the concepts of Psychology (go take a Psychology class people!) the impact on the study of the human mind and human behavior has had seismic impacts on the social and political landscape of the world.
Schools: Behavior & Cognition
Clinical: Drugs & Treatment of Mental Disorders
Social: Legal implications, Cultural implications, & even Combat implications of Psychology

8. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
The Green Revolution produced food for the earth’s growing population as it spread chemically and genetically enhanced forms of agriculture. Particularly in the developing world…
The use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers beginning in the 1960’s

9. The Green Revolution
The Green Revolution refers to the time in the 20th Century where new agricultural technologies and crops were developed and spread throughout the world (Most notably in the 1960’s and 1970’s) **Do NOT confuse with Green Energy**
Mexico: despite an end to the hacienda system and land reform Mexico could not sustain it’s growing population. Between they made a concerted effort to import new seeds, technology, and irrigation practices.
India: In 1961 India on the brink of famine until an effort to bring the IR8 Rice (10 times the normal yield of rice) & Wheat seed drastically improved India’s food security and allows it to be one of the worlds top rice exporters today.
Technology spread wasn’t new to the world but were not normally used outside of industrialized nations (pesticides, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, etc) Combination of corporate, humanitarian, NGO, and government actions.
Production Doubled in Developing Nations of cereal grains (rice, corn, wheat) which provided greater food security.

10. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
Medical innovations increased the ability of humans to survive.
The polio vaccine: Dr. Jonas Salk-1952
Antibiotics: Penicillin Dr. Alexander Fleming-1928
The artificial heart-1982 (heart assistive technology)
Energy technologies including the use of oil and nuclear power raised productivity and increased the production of material goods.

11. The Polio Vaccine
Polio or Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that can cause paralysis and muscle weakness. While it has existed for thousands of years the 20th Century saw major breakthroughs in the treatment:
1908: Identification of the Virus causing Polio by Karl Landsteiner.
1952: Jonas Salk developed an injectable vaccine (IPV)
1962: Albert Sabin’s Oral vaccine (OPV) becomes the standard and only vaccine used worldwide.
While polio has not been completely eradicated, as of 2008, only three countries are still considered endemic (Nigeria, Pakistan, & Afghanistan)

12. Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming developed the first chemical antibiotic (Penicillin) based on a 1928 discovery.
(Fleming and two others Florey & Chain won the Nobel Prize in 1945)
Antibiotics treat bacterial infection and are also used as a preventative measure after surgery.
Potential Misuse:
Antibiotics have also been used in agriculture (specifically animal husbandry) with movements in the latter half of the 20th century to prohibit them. (Organic)
Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics are thought to cause resistant strains of bacteria
Fleming
1944 Advertisement

13. Energy Technology
The exploitation of fossil fuels continued throughout the 20th Century as well as the development of Nuclear Power.

14. Nuclear Power-Plants Worldwide…wide…wide

15. Consequences…
Energy technologies including the use of oil and nuclear power raised productivity and increased the production of material goods.
But not without cost…
Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania Reactor meltdown and release of radioactive materials.
Chernobyl, Ukraine SSR Reactor explosion and nuclear fallout.
Fukushima, Japan Considered on par with Chernobyl. Meltdown and release of nuclear material.
Deep Water Horizon, Gulf of Mexico Million barrel oil spill in Gulf of Mexico.
Disasters related to energy generally resulted in tougher regulation of energy industries and also for investment into alternative energies.

16. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
As the global population expanded at an unprecedented rate, humans fundamentally changed their relationship with the environment:
Humans exploited and competed over the earth’s finite resources more intensely than ever before in human history.
Global warming was a major consequence of the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Pollution threatened the world’s supply of water and clean air. Deforestation and desertification were continuing consequences of the human impact on the environment. Rates of extinction of other species accelerated sharply.

17. Exploitation & Competition
Surface Mining (Strip/Open Pit/Mountaintop Removal) where the soil and rock surrounding minerals are removed.
Issues with mining operations remain from industrial revolution throughout early 1900’s especially safety and health concerns.
Ground & Ocean deposits of Oil/Natural Gas

18. Exploitation & Competition
Competition over natural resources is as old as human history. In the 20th Century this competition escalated in numerous ways:
Middle Eastern Economic Imperialism & Nation-Building
Mandates of the post World War I era over substantial portions of the Middle East.
Direct involvement of Intelligence agencies (C.I.A.) in the overthrow of governments to provide energy security Shah of Iran.
Competition between Oil-Producing countries: Iran-Iraq War & Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by Saddam Hussein.
Economic investment in oil producing regions on the part of China.

19. Global Warming & Pollution
Most of the modern deforestation occurring in contemporary era occurs in tropical and sub tropical areas of the world.
Leads to extinction of animal & plant species & desertification
Desertification has multiple causes mostly the overuse by humans of a water source

20. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
Disease, scientific innovations, and conflict led to demographic shifts.
Diseases associated with poverty persisted, while other diseases emerged as new epidemics and threats to human survival. In addition, changing lifestyles and increased longevity led to higher incidence of certain diseases.
Diseases associated with poverty:
Malaria, Tuberculosis, Cholera
Emergent epidemic diseases:
The 1918 influenza pandemic, Ebola, HIV/AIDS
 Diseases associated with changing lifestyles:
Diabetes
Heart disease
Alzheimer’s disease

21. Diseases: New, Lifestyle, Poverty

22. Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
More effective forms of birth control gave women greater control over fertility and transformed sexual practices.
Improved military technology and new tactics led to increased levels of wartime casualties.
Improved military technology:
Tanks
Airplanes
The atomic bomb
New tactics:
Trench warfare
Firebombing
Location of wartime casualties:
Nanjing
Dresden
Hiroshima