Science Borealis

Science Borealis
Science Borealis

Monday, 4 February 2013

Can science explain how bees fly? and why does that matter?

I've recently watched a film with my daughter. You've probably seen it, and most definitely have heard of it. Its called "The Bee Movie".

It starts with a statement:


"According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
  
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible."
 
http://images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-519742656-original.jpg 
Now, the statement in itself may seem amusing, since it tries to convey the fact that 
nature doesn't need our permission to do what it has been doing since ever,
BUT....
the flaw in the argument is a very important point, which is 
 
Science does not assume nature need to conform to its authority
Science merely exists to explain how nature bahves
 
It is the notion of divinity that assumes nature was given to humans to be ruled.
 
The biggest problem with having such joked in major pop films is that they help propagate
a false impression of what science is.
 
(just as a side note, looking up online whether science can explain bee's flight brings up some
neat anecdotes but are not my intention to include in this post)
 
          
 
 

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