Countries are spending more and more to science today. According to reports, U.S spent $368 billion on 2012. 18 percent of this number is spent for basic research. Science and human questioned basic questions and science answered them. Main aim of these basic researches is solving practical problems but some basic researches in the history changed the world. Some of the scientists tried to change the world by basic researcher but some of them made it unwillingly or results surprised them completely. How many science experiments are there those changed the world?
Most popular basic research changed the world in the close history is Stanley Milgram’s experimental research on 1960. It’s also accepted as one of the most controversial research in the history of science. Milgram collected ordinary people from society and made the volunteers. There was a fake electricity control panel in front the volunteers and they asked questions from microphone to scientist’s assistant in the closed door. When assistant couldn’t answer the question, an authority commanded them to increase the level of electricity. When electricity level is higher, fake moans and voices were coming from assistant inside. With authority’s command, most of the volunteers turned the level up to 450w. Many authorities found the research very dangerous but only a few of the volunteers found it dangerous for themselves. Research showed that humanity is very naïve in front of authority.
Another popular basic research is Ivan Pavlov’s psychology tests on behavior which are known as “Dog Days” He was working on ”canine digestion” but he noticed the strange behavior styles of dogs while making research. While he was making the research to find connection between stomach and salivation, he noticed that digestion is not starting if there’s no salivation on dog. He understood that autonomic nervous system behavior is needed to do it and he realized how the reflex is working. His research on dogs resulted with much important knowledge on reflexes and changed the world.
British physician Edward Jenner’s research on smallpox was also changed the world. It was 18th century and one of each ten children in Russia, France and many European countries were dying because of smallpox. Only treatment way was taking the smallpox and surviving the infection but most of them were dying by smallpox. Edward Jenner made researches on smallpox and noticed that many cowgirls in his town are often became infected with cowpox but it’s not strong as smallpox and they are surviving from it. But the result is surprising because these girls were not infecting by smallpox when they survived from mild cowpox. He produced vaccination from cowpox virus and vaccinated it to children. They were now immune to smallpox. He noticed that smallpox and cowpox viruses are so similar that immune system couldn’t distinguish them and attacking to virus.
Today’s Charles Darwin’s theory about evolution is controversial but in his life, it was not an important or controversial topic. Also he didn’t do only research about evolution. One of the researches he made and changed the world is known as “Darwin’s Flowers” He made researches on HMS Beagle and its journey. He found many answers about adaptation of animals. He understood that animals, insects and flowers are adapting themselves to live more. He found many important results about gene and its system.
Thomas Young’s and A.A. Michelson’s experiments on light were also leading today’s modern world. They made researches to find speed of light. Their results were so important that many researchers used their inventions to discover more about light and its usage areas in daily life.