[Encounter] Curiosity Solver from Daily Life to Social Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] "I recommend lightly opening and reading any section that catches your eye."

This is what the author of '1-Minute Science Reading' wrote in the preface. Although '1-Minute Science Reading' deals with science, it is an easy-to-read book without burden. The author majored in Korean Language and Literature at university and works as an economic newspaper reporter. He is a non-expert in science. The book contains the process of a non-expert feeling curiosity and questions about various scientific phenomena occurring in our daily lives and solving them on his own.

The author serialized the 'Reading Science' series on the Asia Economy homepage from January 3, 2018, to May 7, 2020, for a full 28 months, posting one article per day. Among them, 50 articles related to health and medical topics were compiled and published as '1-Minute Science Reading.'

Under the title 'Interesting Science Reading,' the book selectively includes information that is good to know as common sense and practice in daily life for a healthy life, as well as knowledge that solves curiosities related to our bodies. During the online serialization, sharp comments were inevitably posted whenever the descriptions were somewhat clumsy or the understanding was insufficient, so much effort was put into refining and proofreading the manuscript. Additional information and numerous references that could not be included in the articles were also added. The book is structured in a format where the author himself poses curious questions and answers them.

The questions are diverse and interesting. They range from light questions about ourselves, such as why we feel tired no matter how much we sleep, why we gain weight just by drinking water, and whether there really is a body type that does not gain weight, to social issues like how effective school reopening delays are in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and how effective fine dust reduction policies can be.

The author argues that artificial rain, one of the fine dust reduction measures, is not an ideal method. Above all, the effect of artificial rain is not significant. In Korea, days with severe fine dust are influenced by high pressure systems. On such days, the atmosphere is stable with weak winds, dust does not disperse properly, and there are few rain clouds, so the success rate of artificial rain is low. Additionally, attempts at artificial rain can disrupt the natural flow of the atmosphere and even cause abnormal weather phenomena. The silver iodide used in artificial rain can also have harmful effects on the human body.

Regarding the effect of school reopening delays, the author cites research results from Imperial College London to confirm empirical effects. Since January this year, the author has covered nearly 20 articles related to COVID-19 in the 'Reading Science' series. Besides the effect of school reopening delays, he also emphasizes the importance of cough etiquette to prevent droplet infection transmission. Various topics related to COVID-19 are included, such as when a COVID-19 vaccine might be developed and whether masks can be disinfected using a microwave.

The author's curiosity also extends to what a future society with highly advanced science might look like. We now live in an era where genetic modification is possible due to advances in biotechnology. Synthetic biology can pose threats to biosecurity at any time. The author emphasizes that global responses are essential for issues like biosecurity. He also questions what the meaning of family will be in an era when children are born without sperm and eggs, underscoring the reason why science and the humanities must develop together.

Although the author recommends light reading, as you read, important keywords such as our bodies, children, society, and the future are linked through the theme of science, providing food for thought. As the author states in the preface, it makes us realize anew what in our lives is not connected to science.

(1-Minute Science Reading / Written by Kim Jonghwa / Saenggak Bihaeng)