Great progress in the three sciences – biology, chemistry and physics – has brought about many changes in man’s life and its environment; it has filled in the gaps between scattered countries into a global village through various telecommunications, the most recent one being the internet.  But the negative aspects of the quick development of science must be taken into account.

The first impact of science as a threat falls on man’s environment which doubtlessly has an effect on the people.  Due to the increase in industrial activities, pollution occurs.  The incessant release of more dust, smoke and other toxic substances makes breathing very difficult and if a person continues to live in such a polluted atmosphere, he or she will contract respiratory diseases or can even end up with lung cancer.  Water pollution is also a threatening problem to mankind.  Dyes and soap when discharged continuously in rivers, lakes or ponds cause the water to become undrinkable.  The living organisms like the fish, toads, and algae all get poisoned.  In some regions, uneducated fishermen collect the infected fish on the banks of the river.  The fish is cooked and eaten.  As a result, the consumer gets contaminated.  Similarly, the whole country’s people are put in danger.

Another negative effect of science is the destruction of the protective ozone layer.  Because of the highly toxic and harmful smoke released by the several chimneys of industries: chemical ones mainly; and the CFCs in the air, a hole near the North Pole can now be seen.  Greenhouse effect is occurring.  The ultra-violet rays of the sun reach us easily and this leads to skin problems due to sun radiation.  Radiation also increases the risk of cataract.

In the medical field as well, people face many threats.  For instance, a citizen suffers from two or more diseases.  He visits his doctors regularly and takes the prescribed medicines correctly.  But after some days, as noted in many reports, many further complications arise.  The chemicals found in the medicines taken have counteracted in his body.  The patient then can be partially paralysed or even get attacks at any time.  If the reaction is serious, the person may even die.  Such are the dangerous risks exposed to mankind by science.

Discoveries after discoveries, inventions after inventions, science has evolved rapidly but blindly; without pondering over its alarming consequences.  In certain countries, such as France, abortion has been authorised.  For example, a woman who fell pregnant unwillingly wants at any cost to have her baby aborted.  So, putting her own life at risk, she undergoes the abortion operation.  If the operation is successful, the woman comes out unharmed but in the interval, someone has been murdered.  Science has gone against the law of nature. 

Finally, the scientific invention pushing thousands of people into the jaws of death and causing total destruction as well is the nuclear weapons.  In 1945, our world stepped into the nuclear age, when the United States bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  These are the only cities to have ever suffered from a nuclear attack.  Nearly all the inhabitants turned to ash and vapour spontaneously.  Radiant heat from the explosion’s fireball burns the skin, depriving the remaining survivors of their vision.  People living a few miles from the blast are also exposed to nuclear radiation – which damages body cells.  Severe cell damage can then result in sickness and death within hours.

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Science, though developed for the bright future of mankind, can be a great threat.