Sophisticated weaponry used in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and several other regions is causing acute suffering, death, and destruction. Some of the killing technologies are directly controlled by humans, and others can destroy without human input.

Science enables mass destruction, but for most of us, science has made life simpler, safer, and longer.

• Vaccines reduced mortality and improved public health more than anything other than safe water.
• Advanced treatments lowered today’s death rate for cardiovascular diseases to one-fifth of the rate in the early 1960s.
• Regenerative medicine is a growing field developing methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs, or tissues.
• Laser technology allows ophthalmology patients to enjoy improved vision, fast healing, few side effects, and little pain.
• Oral contraceptives enable effective family planning.
• A near-cashless economy is a reality. Smartphones, computers, and plastic cards mean adults can survive with pockets empty of currency.
• DNA can lead to criminal convictions and exonerations and also identifies and connects families.
• Electric vehicles make transportation cleaner and more energy efficient.
• Solar and wind technologies offer improved efficiency and lower costs for generating electricity.
• Fiber optic technology has altered the speed and effectiveness of communications.
• Smartphones and the Internet facilitate our connections with others.
• A typical smartphone today is exponentially more capable than the most powerful supercomputer of 40 years ago.
• Bar codes, and QR codes simplify product identification and transport.
• etc.

Fifty years ago, life expectancy in Canada for males was 69.5 years and 76.6 for females. In 2024, those numbers have increased to 80.4 and 84.6 years. metro Vancouver ranks among the highest Canadian regions for life expectancy.

The process of science is a way of building knowledge about the universe — constructing new ideas that illuminate the world around us…Scientific knowledge allows us to develop new technologies, solve practical problems, and make informed decisions — both individually and collectively...

Understanding Science — University of California

Despite the evidence of science dramatically changing our lives for better and for worse, science denial is a critical issue in 2024. Rejecting widely accepted evidence is not new.

Galileo Galilei used science to argue the solar system was sun-centered, not geocentric. Religious leaders vehemently rejected his statements and dragged Galileo before an inquisition. The man Einstein called the “father of modern science” was forced to recant much of his life’s work.

In the 20th century, scientists reported on the dangers of tobacco and leaded gasoline. Industry downplayed these risks and paid “researchers” to cast doubt on the science. This had deadly health consequences to the public.

Andrew Wakefield published a paper that claimed the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine was associated with autism. Although scientists thoroughly discredited Wakefield’s work, he and his supporters have used the internet and social media to gain money and spread vaccine doubts and conspiracy theories. 

Reduced confidence in the use of vaccines has had serious health consequences. Measles has exploded in Europe and elsewhere. It is a serious contagious disease that can affect the brain and the lungs and cause loss of vision. The incidence of congenital rubella syndrome is highest where vaccination coverage is lowest.

The germ theory of disease proposed by Louis Pasteur and others in the 19th century, was met with skepticism and denial.

After German scientist Alfred Wegener suggested in 1912 that the Earth’s continents were drifting, his theory was was denied widely for five decades.

Creationism was taught in schools and a small number of teachers and fundamentalist preachers still present it as a credible alternative to evolution. Creationists who reject science argue the universe is about 6,000 years old.

Now British Columbia has a group of science deniers hoping to form government. But we can’t only blame a handful of politicians, 43.5% of BC voters consciously stepped into the pit of stupidity.