THE MYTH OF THE MISSING WHEEL

For a long time, it’s been widely assumed in the West that pre-Columbian civilizations were somehow intellectually inferior because they never developed the wheel. However, archaeological discoveries in Mexico tell a different story. Wheeled ceramic toys, some dating back centuries before European contact, clearly show that the concept of the wheel was known and understood.

These artifacts challenge the narrative that ancient American cultures were unaware of this fundamental innovation. So why wasn’t the wheel used for transportation? Scholars suggest the answer may lie in environmental factors, such as the absence of large draft animals and the rugged geography of much of the area. These findings serve as a reminder that technological progress isn’t always a universal path—and that assumptions about cultural advancement need to be reconsidered.

A WANDERING MIND ON A COOL NIGHT

Now that summer’s prolonged and unpalatable humidity has finally relented, I’ve taken to sitting out on my front porch and relaxing in the cool night air. The nighttime tranquility in my trailer park never ceases to amaze considering that I live in quite an active and bustling part of town during the day.

Last night during my state of serenity, I began gazing skyward, where I noticed only one visible star. I blame clouds and an abundance of urban lighting for my limited stellar view. Since that lone star was due north, I deduced that it must be the North Star.

My mind’s wheels began turning. ‘How far is the North Star from Earth?’, I wondered. It occurred to me that my inquiry could easily be resolved with my handy, dandy smartphone. I spoke into it, and it responded with a soothing female voice, "the North Star or Polaris is approximately 434 light years from Earth”.

I let that information sink in for a moment. It has taken nearly 434 years for that twinkling stellar light to travel from the North Star to my gazing eyeballs. Utilizing my smartphone again, I computed that the light observed from the North Star was generated in 1582, which I further learned from my amazing hand-held device that William Shakespeare was then alive as a teenager.

It was then that I concluded that aided with some handy technology, the mind can indeed wander across the space-time continuum on a cool, peaceful night on one's front porch...if one is receptive.

It Might Be Crazy Enough to Work

I've had this idea in the inner recesses of my mind that I've always dismissed as unfeasible and, for lack of a better term, 'nutty'. But after reading an internet story predicting that human garbage output is expected to double by the year 2025, I thought it time to reexamine my idea: using the sun as a giant trash vaporizer.

Yes, I'm mostly putting this notion out there as a 'trial balloon' as they say in the political game. But, I think it, at least, merits some serious consideration.

According to research from Worldwatch.com, the amount of garbage produced by the world's cities will increase from 1.3 billion tons today to 2.6 billions tons in 2025. The U.S. leads the world in municipal solid waste or (MSW) output at about 621,000 tons a day, but China is quickly catching up at 521,000 tons a day.

Where are we going to put all this trash? Landfills, once thought to be the most practical solution, are using up increasingly scarce amounts of land. They're also becoming bigger health hazards. Moreover, landfills have become vast repositories for MSW consisting of plastics and Styrofoam products that takes years and even centuries to break down or become biodegradable.

Earthbound incineration doesn't appear to be the answer either. They can release large amounts of air pollution, and worse, become a source for carcinogenic and other toxic materials. Burning trash really doesn't get rid of the waste; it converts into another form.

However, solar vaporization will not pose any of the above risks to humans. All we need is the technology to simply sling the toxic refuse out of the Earth's gravitational field and aim it in the general direction of the Sun. We've had the rocket technology and knowledge of physical laws that would enable this action for decades.

Now, mind you, I'm not completely sold on this idea either. First, the costs of sending trash to the Sun would be enormous and probably prohibitive. But, I believe these kinds of problems can be ironed out with time. A second risk I foresee is the possibility of flung trash failing to make out of the Earth's orbit and blanketing the planet with toxic waste. The impact of such an error could be mitigated by regulating the amount and type of MSW that is sent in each solar delivery. Perhaps, there's small enough amount that our environment could safely withstand in such a mishap. Finally, solar vaporization turns waste into unrecoverable resources. Once the sun vaporizes it, the idea of recycling goes completely out the window.

Once again, I'm just throwing this out there. But, sometimes it pays to think outside the box.

Can Technology Exist Without Science?

I believe it’s possible, but only on a singularly and fleetingly rare occasion. In many instances throughout history, people have discovered a new technology by accident and its first use came about without any prior scientific research.


I believe prehistoric cave dwellers may have discovered the benefits of cooking in such a way. Tens of thousands of years ago, perhaps, some cave people were sitting around a fire eating raw meat from a fresh kill. Suddenly, one of the hunters accidentally dropped their slab into the fire. After fishing the food painstakingly and cautiously out of the blaze, the cave person soon discovered that the meat was easier to chew and tasted better.


The above example is a one-time example where people used a technology without science. From then on, the cave dwellers relied on the observed knowledge or ‘research’ that fire makes food tastier and easier to eat and purposely began using the fire to cook their meat.


Yes, I believe technology can exist without science, but only by accident!