Knowledge & Technology Timeline by Frederic Wu吳秉翰 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu TOK Timeline (300,000 years ago - present) AOK - Natural Sciences: How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge? en-us 2023-02-15 03:35:44 UTC 2025-10-23 23:22:42 UTC hello@padlet.com Space telescope breakthrough: JWST -- 2021 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2489131654 JWST(James Webb Space Telescope), an engineering marvel, was launched on Christmas December 25, 2021 8:20 PM GMT+8. The space telescope is well equipped with four main instruments, including NIRSpec (Near Infrared Spectrograph), MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), and FGS/NIRISS (Fine Guidance System/Near-InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph). 

Webb is looking at the universe like never before. Within days after the telescope started to operate, researchers quickly identified and confirmed thousands of galaxies more distant and ancient than those previously discovered by other telescopes. Through spectrography, Webb also allows researchers to study the chemical composition of a planet's atmosphere and the planet's potential of hosting extraterrestrial life. In the past few months, Webb demonstrated the complexity of the stellar system in the Southern Ring nebula, glimpsed at the cloud of Titan, found the most distant galaxy up to date, and more. By looking at longer wavelengths, Webb helps us see deeper into space and beyond dust clusters. 

Designed to be the successor of Hubble, Webb demonstrates the importance of material tools in acquiring knowledge. Compared to Hubble, which observes light within the visible region, Webb observes light in the infrared region, enabling researchers to look deeper into space as red shift occurs. Also, thanks to infrared's longer wavelength, researchers can see through dust clusters that will otherwise block our view. The improvement in technology, or the tool researchers have in hand, impacts their ability to produce and acquire knowledge. Without Webb, researchers will not be able to observe various phenomenon due to the limitations of current tools. There are currently no other telescopes that can capture images of the universe's deep fields as clearly as Webb, making it one of researcher's most treasured tool.]]> 2023-02-21 03:17:35 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2489131654 Stone tools -- Stone Age s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495110067 Stone tools are tools made by shaping, flaking, or chipping stones into specific shapes for various purposes. Examples of stone tools include hand axes, arrowheads, blades, hammers, and more. Stone tools are essential to early human developments.

With the advent of stone tools, early humans were able to manipulate their environment and adapt to changing conditions. This ability to shape and control the natural world is a fundamental aspect of scientific inquiry and technological advancement, and it continues to be a driving force behind the production and acquisition of knowledge. 

Using stone tool, early humans were able to ensure basic safety and gather into small communities. This change makes it possible for humans to explore their surrounding environment, acquiring knowledge through the process. Material tools do not always directly assist the production or acquisition of knowledge. Stone tools, for example, indirectly assist early humans in acquiring and pass down knowledge by instilling a sense of safety, allowing humans to travel further and explore the world.

The development of hand axes was also a form of knowledge acquisition as it involved trial and error, experimentation, and the transmission of knowledge between generations. By learning how to create and use hand axes, early humans were able to develop new skills and knowledge, such as how to select and shape materials, how to create sharp edges, and how to use tools to perform specific tasks. These knowledge was also passed down generations, aiding future discovery and innovation.]]> 2023-02-26 06:40:10 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495110067 Compass -- 11th or 12th century s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116449 Given current historical documentations, compass was likely invented by ancient Chinese for navigation purposes. The earliest recorded use of the compass dates back to the 11th or 12th century. The earliest compasses were likely made using lodestones, naturally magnetized pieces of iron ore that were found in the ground.

The compass was used for various purposes. For example, mariners used the compass to navigate the seas, allowing new lands to be discovered and mapped. The invention of the compass also sparked interest and studies regarding magnetism, further pushing for the acquisition of knowledge. Finally, the compass was also used to align telescopes more accurately, enabling more precise observations to be made.

The compass is proven to be extremely important to the production and acquisition of knowledge. Not only did it spark interest in studies in magnetism, the compass also allow mariners to easily obtain directions when navigating the seas. The important role the compass plays in the age of exploration increased humanity's understanding about the geography of the world and enabled the exchange of knowledge between different countries. The compass directly contributed to increased scientific interest in magnetism, and indirectly changed how individuals acquire knowledge by making it possible for the exchange of information through the development of a global network.]]> 2023-02-26 06:57:27 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116449 Microscope -- 17th century s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116549 A microscope is a scientific apparatus for the observation of microorganisms that are invisible to the naked human eyes. It allows humans to acknowledge the existence of cells, how plants breathe, and how rocks change over time. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is credited with inventing the first microscope in the 17th century. His microscope had a single lens and was used to observe microorganisms, such as bacteria and protozoa. 

Different types of microscopes include simple microscopes for jewelry and basic studies, compound microscopes for bacteria and viruses research, electron microscopes for metals and crystals studies, stereomicroscopes for microsurgery operations and artifacts studies, and scanning probe microscopes for electrical and magnetic property research. 

The invention of the microscope allowed humans to grasp the micro-scale world that was previously unseen by people. It opened human eyes to a world of possibilities. Fossil research, jewelry studies, and microsurgery operations all expanded human knowledge of any aspect to another level.

]]> 2023-02-26 06:57:48 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116549 Computers and Internet ~ 1945 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116633 Computers are incredibly powerful tools that have revolutionized the way we gather, process, and share knowledge. They can quickly process and store vast amounts of data, allowing us to access and analyze information from anywhere in the world. The world's first compute is technically the abacus, since the original definition of computer is a person that performs mathematical operations. However, the meaning of computers changed over time. The world's first digital, programmable, electronic, general purpose computer, one that most of us are more familiar with, was developed in 1945 called ENIAC.

Computers have, in many ways, help transform the way we acquire and produce knowledge. From a simple search on the internet or asking a chatbot, individuals can easily find resources for topics they might not understand with the help of computers. Starting from early 2000s, as computers started to become increasingly powerful, more tools and software enables individuals to perform tasks such as information extraction through AI, simulations through software provided by Ansys, mathematical analysis through Matlab, and more. Computer greatly increased human potential and the speed required for individuals to retrieve desired information.

While computer's the role in the acquiring and producing knowledge is an ongoing debate due to the negative effects accompanied with computation advancements. For example, while computers increased the speed for people to retrieve information, computers also propagate fake news in a speed far faster than other mediums. Also, unlike other material tools, computers are not essentially unique. 
Humans have been acquiring and producing knowledge long before computers were invented, using tools such as books, maps, and scientific instruments. While computers have undoubtedly made these processes faster and more efficient, it is crucial to remember that they are only tools proven to be comparatively more efficient. Therefore, while computers are undoubtedly essential in the acquisition and production of knowledge, they are not the only tools available, and their importance should be viewed in the context of the broader knowledge acquisition process.]]> 2023-02-26 06:57:59 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116633 Particle accelerator -- 1932 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116727 Particle accelerators have been developed since the early 20th century to study the behavior of subatomic particles. They have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics and the structure of matter.

Some of the largest particle accelerators in the world are located in Switzerland's CERN and America's Fermilab. Through the use of large particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider, particle physicists were able to make  numerous groundbreaking discoveries in the past century. Perhaps one of the most important discoveries is the experimental proofs of Higgs Boson, a particle that gives rise to mass in all fundamental particles. Other than proving Higgs Boson, particle accelerators also helped researchers identify W and Z bosons, the top quark, the tau neutrino, the charm quark, and more.

Particle accelerators enable the observation of phenomenon that were previously impossible to observe. For example, without near light speed particle-particle collisions, researchers might not yet discover several fundamental particles. This demonstrates the importance of particle accelerators in the process of producing knowledge since they cannot be easily replaced by other tools. Particle accelerators also poked holes in the standard model of particle physics, introducing loopholes such as lepton asymmetry, sparking new interests in understanding quantum phenomenon. These mysteries introduced by particle accelerators ignited the increase in efforts to produce and acquire new knowledge to complete existing theories.]]> 2023-02-26 06:58:10 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495116727 X-ray machines -- 1895 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495991517 In 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Konrad discovered X-rays when investigating cathode rays (electron beams) in low-pressure gases. X-ray machine is an indispensable diagnostic tool in modern medicine. It allowed a nonintrusive detection of dental cavities, bone fractures, foreign objects, and cancer. It is also able to distinguish between bones and soft tissues.

It was the first noninvasive imaging that allowed for direct visualization of the human body in real time. In addition, it offered the first opportunity to view the brain; it revolutionized neurological knowledge specifically in neurosurgical disorders, due to its ability to take pictures of bones. X-ray machines further led to the invention of CT Scan in the 1970s, which is a more powerful version of X-ray imaging. It is known for its use to diagnose bone fractures and tuberculosis. It became possible to observe the digestive tract using opaque substances like barium sulfate, which made it possible to spot tuberculosis. 

X-ray machine was one of the first technologies that expanded humans' knowledge in the medical aspect. It led to various new discoveries in history. It also paved the way for even more advanced imaging technologies. These all contribute to the acquisition of knowledge about diseases that humans previously don't know about. ]]> 2023-02-27 08:19:32 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495991517 MRI machines -- 1971 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495993104 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used for forming images of organs and tissues of the body. Strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves are involved to generate those pictures. Compared to CT scans and X-ray imaging, MRI allows cross-sectional picturing of the tissue structure in both horizontal and vertical directions. 

It offers a noninvasive way for doctors to check organs, tissues, and skeletal systems. Due to its good image resolution, tissue characterization, and functional assessment of organs, MRI becomes an important modern technology in medical research and clinical practice. It plays a critical role in the processes of cancer prevention and detection, as well as in neurological and orthopedic diagnosis.  

MRI is one giant step forward from X-ray imaging and CT scan. It allows doctors and researchers to more accurately make diagnoses and observe the macrostructure and microstructure of tissues and organs. Cancer detection and neurological research are famous for employing this technology in the processes. In other words, it helps humans to better acquire knowledge of the human body parts that were previously with less knowledge of. With MRI being able to detect cancer cells and tumors in the brain, humans now are able to visualize and recognize cancer, which significantly adds to the limited knowledge about cancer or brain diseases that doctors had.]]> 2023-02-27 08:21:14 UTC https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495993104 Spectrometers -- 1802 s102321 https://padlet.com/s102321/bu2nnmd9dijecbgu/wish/2495994706 The spectrometer is invented by Joseph von Fraunhofer in the early 19th century. Fraunhofer discovered that the spectral lines of sunlight were not continuous, but formed as black lines in the spectrum. He created a spectrometer to investigate these depth lines and found that they related to certain parts of the sun's atmosphere. The spectrometers divide light into primary colors using prisms and measure the location of spectral lines using a ruler. 

To determine a material's structure, spectrometers study how light and the subject interact. The spectrometer allows us to analyze the atoms in the object by measuring the wavelength and frequency of light when we placed a sample inside. Spectrometers could be used to generate new materials, track pollution, maintain food safety, and produce medicine. As the spectrometer reveals the breakdown of light, it boots our understanding of the natural world.

Spectrometers present the pattern, structure, and behaviors in sciences. It has proven for researchers to classify chemicals, investigate motion and radiation, study stars and galaxies, and learn about the structure and operation of molecules. Research in natural sciences has largely changed due to the functionality techniques of a spectrometer, which provide scientists with new perspectives on the universe's principles.

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