In this blog post, we’ll examine the process by which crude oil extracted from the ground is separated into various components in a distillation tower based on differences in boiling points, thereby creating the raw materials for the diverse products we use in our daily lives. How does crude oil become the raw material for various products? Plastics, synthetic fibers, and gasoline—these...
What’s the Difference Between the Wine Craze and the Humanities Craze?
In this blog post, I’ll compare the wine craze that swept South Korea in the 2000s with the subsequent popular surge in interest in the humanities. I’ll examine the commonalities that emerge when knowledge and culture are consumed as commodities, as well as the mindset needed to truly appreciate the humanities. Talk of the “humanities” is everywhere. Department store cultural centers are...
Can eternal life truly make humanity happier?
In this blog post, we’ll examine from various perspectives whether a society where eternal life has become possible through scientific and technological advancements could be happier than our current one. What conditions are necessary for a society of eternal life to be happy? The film ‘In Time’, written and directed by Andrew Niccol, is set in a society where time serves as...
Why Do Sinkholes and Ground Subsidence Cause the Ground to Collapse Suddenly?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the principles behind sinkholes and ground subsidence—where the ground suddenly collapses—as well as their natural causes and those arising from urban development, and explore corresponding preventive measures. A Bolt from the Blue on Dry Land: Sinkholes Back in 2012, the ground collapsed like a bolt from the blue. Near a construction site for the Incheon...
Can plastic surgery be another option in an era of appearance-based competition?
In this blog post, we’ll explore what plastic surgery means in a society where physical appearance is seen as a competitive advantage, and how we can view the pursuit of beauty and societal perceptions of plastic surgery. There’s a saying: “If the price is the same, choose the better option.” This means that if two options cost the same, you should choose the better one—a principle that...
How can an airplane overcome its weight of hundreds of metric tons and fly through the sky?
In this blog post, we’ll explore how an airplane weighing hundreds of metric tons can fly, understand the principles of flight through the lift generated by the wings, and examine the flaws in the commonly held “long-path theory.” When I lie in bed scrolling through Facebook before sleep, I’m constantly seeing a flood of photos posted by friends from their overseas trips—featuring blue...
How do airplanes fly through the sky using their wings and airflow?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the principles behind how airplanes—including the massive A380 passenger jet—fly, and examine how lift is actually generated by debunking the commonly held misconceptions surrounding Bernoulli’s principle and the “equal-time theory.” “Where dreams are made. The A380, the airplane of dreams.” This was the advertising slogan used by Korean Air when it first...
What is the scientific principle behind Gore-Tex, which keeps you dry in the rain while allowing sweat to escape?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the principles, structure, pros, and cons of Gore-Tex—which blocks rain while allowing sweat and water vapor generated by the body to escape—as well as recent technological advancements. Have you ever gotten soaked in sweat while trying to stay dry in the rain? Imagine walking in a raincoat on a rainy day. It’s raining, but it’s hot, so you start to sweat...
What Effects Does the “Bung Bung Drink” Have on Our Bodies?
In this blog post, we’ll explore how the “Bung Bung Drink” works in our bodies and the effects of caffeine on the human body. Have you ever heard of “Bung Bung Drink,” which recently became a trend among middle and high school students? Even now, it’s not hard to find examples—especially online—of people mixing and drinking various types of high-caffeine beverages. “Bung Bung Drink” refers...
How can we solve the free-rider problem, and how can we find a reason to live righteously?
In this blog post, we’ll explore ways to solve the free-rider problem that arises in group projects by examining the evolutionary process behind altruistic behavior in humans, and based on that, we’ll reflect on what it means to live righteously. “I’m not feeling well today, so I don’t think I can make it,” or “Something came up at home, so I’m out.” If you’ve ever worked on a group...