I was reading in the paper the other day about those birds who are trying to split the atom, the nub being that they haven't the foggiest as to what will happen if they do. It may be all right. On the other hand, it may not be all right. And pretty silly a chap would feel, no doubt, if, having split the atom, he suddenly found the house going up in smoke and himself torn limb from limb.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Scientists attempting to split the atom may not understand the consequences, risking catastrophic outcomes.
- In plain terms
- People working on big science might not know the dangers and could cause big accidents.
- What can you take from it?
- Scientific progress requires careful consideration of risks.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much risk is acceptable for progress?
- Who should decide on dangerous research?
Another view
Many scientific breakthroughs occur with manageable risks.
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