Nieuws > Nieuws 2008-2009 > The Science Tunnel
The Science Tunnel
By Bernou Boermann, V4B
On Friday the 12th of September we, 3rd year’s tto, went to the Science Tunnel in Hasselt, an exhibition of the latest groundbreaking evolutions in science. This was as part of our project work for ANW; the world in 50 years. We have to make a website in which we show our ideas about the near future of our world and this day was to give you some inspiration, and it really did.
When we arrived, we first got a lunch break and then we went into the ‘tunnel’. The tunnel was made up out of twelve stations, from the smallest structures in the world to the largest structures in the universe. We were guided by one of the students of the University of Hasselt and were shown the development of the scientific research in e.g. nanotechnology and bio-electronics, the workings of our brain and the beginning of our universe.
At the end of the tour we got some free time to look around all the other things which were there, like a bicycle on which you could race through a city at the speed of light or the possibility to imaginary walk on Mars. Finally we went back to real life, back into the bus, back to school…
What I found most interesting is the fact that we got into contact with things I, until know, didn’t even know existed. The world and all beyond is so much bigger than I could have ever imagined, and we know so much more about things than I thought we did. Like, for the scientists under us, you probably know that there are elements which we cannot see; dark matter.
But did you know that we have now found a method with which you can detect the place of the dark matter? We use light for this, because light bends around things, so it will also bend around the things we cannot see, and then we know it’s there! And did you know that we now have a new theory of the beginning of the universe? Well you’d maybe say: ‘Oh, just another explanation…’ but the exciting part is that if it turns out that this theory is correct, all we know about the universe is correct.
But if it, on the other hand, turns out that this theory is wrong, then all we know, or at least think we know about the universe, is (completely) wrong and we’d have to start all over again! The basis of our science would be incorrect! Can you even imagine what this would do to us? That we’ve been wrong all along?
On Friday the 12th of September we, 3rd year’s tto, went to the Science Tunnel in Hasselt, an exhibition of the latest groundbreaking evolutions in science. This was as part of our project work for ANW; the world in 50 years. We have to make a website in which we show our ideas about the near future of our world and this day was to give you some inspiration, and it really did.
When we arrived, we first got a lunch break and then we went into the ‘tunnel’. The tunnel was made up out of twelve stations, from the smallest structures in the world to the largest structures in the universe. We were guided by one of the students of the University of Hasselt and were shown the development of the scientific research in e.g. nanotechnology and bio-electronics, the workings of our brain and the beginning of our universe.
At the end of the tour we got some free time to look around all the other things which were there, like a bicycle on which you could race through a city at the speed of light or the possibility to imaginary walk on Mars. Finally we went back to real life, back into the bus, back to school…
What I found most interesting is the fact that we got into contact with things I, until know, didn’t even know existed. The world and all beyond is so much bigger than I could have ever imagined, and we know so much more about things than I thought we did. Like, for the scientists under us, you probably know that there are elements which we cannot see; dark matter.
But did you know that we have now found a method with which you can detect the place of the dark matter? We use light for this, because light bends around things, so it will also bend around the things we cannot see, and then we know it’s there! And did you know that we now have a new theory of the beginning of the universe? Well you’d maybe say: ‘Oh, just another explanation…’ but the exciting part is that if it turns out that this theory is correct, all we know about the universe is correct.
But if it, on the other hand, turns out that this theory is wrong, then all we know, or at least think we know about the universe, is (completely) wrong and we’d have to start all over again! The basis of our science would be incorrect! Can you even imagine what this would do to us? That we’ve been wrong all along?
On this day I’ve been explained a lot about the universe, and most of my questions have been answered.
But I’m still longing for that answer to my biggest question: what is there beyond the universe?