There is No Hope of Doing Perfect Research

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01 July 2012

The Oxford  advanced  learner’s dictionary, defines research as an organized and systematic study or investigation,   aimed at  finding new facts or information in any discipline. The word “perfect” is an adjective which denotes a state of completeness which is unquestionable because it has no  single fault or error. Therefore a “perfect research” is a fact or invention which does not need any further modification because it is irrefutable and irrevocable. It is with this understanding  that I completely agree with Griffiths (1998, pg97) that there is no hope of doing a perfect research. I have the most recent examples which clearly substantiate this argument with the clarity it deserves.

 On 05^th February 1999, the Russian scientists developed a 650 foot space mirrors to work like the moon.  The  giant reflectors would direct their beam to the arctic cities during the dark months of  winter. This was a noble idea, which cost the government almost one trillion dollars. They believed that this would improve the quality of life in the arctic areas which experiences the energy deficit. While suspended  at about 200 miles, the 83 foot collapsible glasses started to unfold, as planned.  As the mirrors started unfolding, they got stuck within minutes. They tried hard with their remote but the mirror could not move any further. This was perhaps the most ambitious and expensive project by the Russian scientists. It had taken them  a long time to plan and execute. But the cargo ship that carried the mirrors could hardly sustain them in the space. The scientists watched helplessly from the Mir space station as their mission failed. According to the New York times, (“Mirror”). The mission head, Vladir Solovyov turned to his colleagues and desperately lamented, “If we don’t come up with any ideas during the night, we’ll probably have to say goodbye to the cargo ship,”.

It is now exactly 100 years after  Alfred Weigner’s theory of continental drift. How  better has it made the world? Still, there is no accurate prediction of the impending earthquakes. Even Japan, which is  a more economically developed country, and  well endowed with good researchers cannot exactly  predict and control both primary and secondary effects of earthquakes. In march 2011, the populous Japanese nation was sorrowed by the earthquake of a magnitude of 8.9. The transport lines and buildings were destroyed. The country experienced  a  devastating 33 foot tsunami which hit the Fukushima nuclear plant. Several workers were reportedly   injured and  more than 1,700 people died. There was  an unconfirmed report on Japan's Fuji TV  that about 10,000 people were missing. Although Japan is respected for her expertise,  Edwin Lyman  who is a nuclear expert at US based Union of Concerned scientist, was reported by the UK Telegraph (Sawer) acknowledging the fact that human beings are imperfect. He said  that there was a loss of both offset power and on-site power, which was one of the rarest things to happen in a nuclear power plant. This was a clear indication that the Japanese did not have the situation under control. Therefore, because research is a marvel of these imperfect human beings, there is no way it can be faultless.  If the ideology of nuclear was without limitations, then we could not expect such deadly side effects. Most countries in the world have been reluctant, in using nuclear energy because  it very hazardous. The nuclear wastes can be radioactive for more than 100 years.

Radiation therapy has been very significant in treating cancer.  To prove this I decided to  visit the Agha Khan Hospital Center for cancer patient in Kenya, I requested for  data of the patients who had been treated through radiotherapy. After my earnest study, I was surprised to find out that eighty percent of the patients are not fully healed. And therefore without fear of any contradiction, I conclusively say that radiation therapy is not a perfect way of treating cancer because of its numerous Side effects.  In radiation therapy,  high doses of radiation end up killing both cancer cells and healthy cells in the area meant for treatment. The Side effects may be more pronounced if a patient receives chemotherapy together with radiation therapy.

My recent research has indeed proved that cancer remains resistant to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The is no perfect medication yet. Most cancer patients are ailing from the adverse effects of cancer treatment, which vary from one person to another. The “treated” cancer patients develop skin ailments when skin cells are exposed to the treatment. These effects include, skin itching, dryness, peeling and blistering. Other adverse effects include diarrhoea, nausea, swellings, infertility, joint problems, Lyphedema and secondary cancer. Therefore a perfectly researched medication should not have such excruciating and devastating effects.

In conclusion, when I refer to these cases and many others which are affecting people in a great way, I completely agree with Griffiths that there is no hope of a perfect research (1998, pg97)  New brains in the research world will still continue to come up new ideas, to disapprove the existing ones or to better them, so as to make the world a better place. But perfection is an unachievable dream.

                                         Works Cited

 “Russia's Giant Space Mirror Fails to Unfold” The New York Times.

         New York Times mag. O5 February 1999.Web.01July2012.