Scientists Destroying the World?

In his novel Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut explores humanity’s catlike curiosity – a curiosity that’s said to have killed the cat. Scientists develop a crystal called ice-nine that causes water to turn to ice at room temperature and warmer – risking the possibility that all the water on the planet could be turned to ice.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, scientists are going to fire up the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the border between Switzerland and France to re-enact the “Big Bang” on a smaller scale. In the process, they hope to discover more about the origins of the universe and the composition of dark matter, dark energy, and other dimensions. A handful of scientists are concerned that this tiny big bang could ultimately shower the earth with miniature black holes that will ultimately cause the earth to collapse in on itself.

I always get a little concerned when humans begin messing with stuff they don’t fully understand, like genetic engineering. I think back to the genetically engineered corn that was killing Monarch butterflies. I think ahead to the possibility of some scientist trying to genetically modify bacteria that can convert water and carbon dioxide into oil. What if something unexpected happened, and all of our water turned into oil?

Maybe I just don’t understand the risks involved or how scientists manage to contain the risks, but some of this experimentation really gives me the heebie jeebies. I think science and technology have done wonderful things for humans as a whole and hold out the promise of doing even more good. I would hate to tie the hands of the curious scientist, but I wonder what gives scientists the right to proceed with these experiments without consulting with the rest of the human race. I suppose it’s the same thing that lets world leaders wage war without consensus of the people who stand to suffer the consequences.