Science in art of war

 

The fate during the Middle Ages till the early Enlightenment was same for scientists who tried to defy the Church. From Giordano Bruno to Galileo, reason was overshadowed by the sword of religion. This was the first phase of death of science by the face of power. During World War I, the second phase occurred wherein a notable physicist, Henry Moseley, who changed the very structure of the fundamental arrangement of all the elemental nature of matter i.e. the periodic table died in the battle of Gallipoli. Having determined the relationship between the X-ray frequencies of atoms and their atomic number in his 20’s, Henry was set out to achieve his Nobel Prize in the comings years. But as fate would have it, he died not as a scientist lending his mind, but as a frontline soldier in the battlefield.  

With time, advancements in science reshaped the way scientists were viewed. Being given, rather a first class citizen status during World War II, the United States under Operation Paperclip relocated over a thousand scientists from the Nazi Germany to US government posts to leverage the wealth of scientific talent for future war uncertainties. Thus, the immense role of science in the art of war came to light.

In the present times, where science has taken a humble being to moon, scientists have been revered for their innovative capabilities and are also under threat of the State powers. Any advancement in armaments can shift the balance of power of nations within seconds. The chess of States to amass power has been played with scientists as their foot soldiers. Thus, a backchannel war is being fought by countries by killing the minds of science. Mysterious deaths nuclear scientists in the early 2000’s in India[1] to the most recent Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear scientist[2]  has caused serious political intrigue.

Labs have become the first line of defense and a force to be feared. Securing the safety of scientists is now not a matter of global altruism to protect science but a State-led strategic act to safeguard their country’s finest living asset. Thus, once again, though by adversaries, reason is being shunned by State powers.


[1]https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/11-nuclear-scientists-died-in-mysterious-circumstances-in-4-years/articleshow/49271974.cms?from=mdr

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m81jg8k4no

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