Studying Science for Fun

If I could go back in time, there are many things I would like to do, and one of them is studying science. Can’t I do it now? Of course I can. And I’m actually doing it. I’m not doing it in a serious way, but I read science books. What’s so special about studying? I’m not going to make money as a scientist, I’m just studying for fun.

I am not interested in all areas of science. I am not interested in neuroscience, astrophysics, or robotics. What I like is the history of science, especially the history of science and technology and natural history. If I could go back in time to the time when I was in prison, I would read books by Charles Darwin and Stephen Jay Gould (not because of baseball! Of course, I would read them because of baseball). Can I read them now? Of course I can, but I don’t have the time or the heart to do so. Instead, I read Professor Lee Jeong-mo’s new book.

The Five Mass Extinctions and the Sixth Mass Extinction

This book shows the five great extinctions that have occurred in the natural history of the Earth and the sixth great extinction that is currently in progress from the perspective of each historical witness. Of course, the Martian robot, the killer whale, the Neanderthal, the Smilodon (ancient giant cat), and the mitochondria cannot speak, but the author introduces the natural history of the great extinctions by being possessed by each being.

Even people like me who have never properly studied natural history can read it easily and enjoyably. As I read, I come across names of animals I have never seen before and scientific theories that seem difficult, but I just read them and skipped over them. In a world where I can search for things when I need them and take the college entrance exam, is there really a need to memorize these things? As I read this way, even mitochondria, which I had a hard time getting close to in high school, feel like familiar entities.

From what I understand, all five mass extinctions were (in terms of Earth’s sense of time) events in which individuals who could not adapt to rapid natural changes went extinct, and as many species went extinct, new species evolved to adapt to the new environment in the niches of the newly created ecosystem. This is the history of the Earth, which has experienced mass extinctions many times. (It’s like the lyrics of the Lion King theme song, ‘Circle of Life’.)

However, unlike the five mass extinctions caused by natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and asteroid collisions, the current sixth mass extinction is caused by climate change, which is a result of human activity. This is not a new story for those who are familiar with the climate crisis. But as the book also says, “Creativity is not a strange idea that falls from the sky” but “it is a new combination of existing things with a new perspective” (page 154). The concept of explaining the climate crisis through the natural history of mass extinctions is a unique and interesting approach.

The Sixth Great Extinction: A Natural History of Human Activities

The sixth great extinction, currently in progress, is caused by climate change resulting from human activities. This is not a new story for those familiar with the climate crisis. However, the concept of explaining the climate crisis as a natural history of great extinctions is refreshing.

Since it is a book that covers the future of the extinction of mankind and the failure of the Mars colonization project, going back in time to the creation of the ocean and the emergence of paleontological organisms, it is overflowing with miscellaneous and interesting knowledge and information. To give just one example, it is said that Homo sapiens did not evolve from Neanderthals, but that the two types of humans lived together on Earth for a certain period of time and then the Neanderthals went extinct, and that their genes mixed during the period of coexistence.

Speaking with Humor

The feature I like the most about Mr. Lee Jeong-mo’s writing is ‘humor’. Mr. Lee Jeong-mo’s humor has the power to make it impossible to ignore serious and uncomfortable truths. I was listening to it thinking it was a funny story, but after listening to it, I felt like there was some kind of backbone to the story. In this case, humor is not just a funny story, but it is closer to the power to make the listener feel comfortable and happy.

And I think that the source of humor is the power to confront hatred, cynicism, and apathy. Of course, some people use hatred and discrimination as humor. Bad humor is like that, such as ridiculing or mocking the minority status of others. The laughter that humor causes contains various emotions, but the humor that these people use does not contain rich human emotions and only focuses on peripheral laughter.

On the other hand, good humor contains not only funny points, but also emotions that seem to not fit with gags, such as sadness, pain, and empathy. Isn’t the reason why comedians are good at not only comedy but also serious acting because the essence of humor is connected to various human emotions? That’s why humorous writing conveys warmth to readers.

Anyway, the story of the mass extinction in the natural history of the Earth is a very exciting science story in itself, and the author adds that in the face of the climate crisis, a life-or-death crisis for humanity, humanity should make an effort instead of thinking about developing Mars.

It is a book that covers the future of the extinction of mankind and the failure of the Mars colonization project, going back in time to the creation of the ocean and the emergence of paleontological organisms, it is overflowing with miscellaneous and interesting knowledge and information.

Social Movements and the Importance of Humor

When engaging in social movements, it’s not uncommon to encounter individuals who seem to have lost their sense of humor. This isn’t to say that they’re not funny people; rather, they often appear to be so consumed by their cause that they’ve forgotten the value of humor in their pursuit of change.

People with zero humor, in my opinion, are those who have no time to spare and no dignity. They claim to want to change the world, but their approach is often marred by hatred and cynicism towards others, or they only show aggression towards visible power, without respect or understanding for those who struggle within the complex systems of power.

The Need for Humor in Social Movements

I believe that social movements need more humor. Humor can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and making complex issues more relatable. However, using humor effectively requires more than just a quick wit and a sense of humor; it also demands extensive knowledge of the field and the ability to convey that knowledge in a way that’s engaging and accessible to others.

Writing humorous content, in particular, requires a great deal of study and practice. It’s not something that can be done overnight, but rather it’s a skill that must be developed over time. As the saying goes, “there’s nothing to eat in life,” meaning that we must work hard to achieve our goals, including developing our sense of humor.