Introduction:
During the enlightenment period, between 16th and 17th centuries, when philosophers celebrated the power of human reason, there were new techniques of science and mathematics which started to play a role in making human activities much more easy and productive. Science and technology were looked at as highest order of learning and civilization.
Scientists, mathematicians, and engineers theorize and create. Politicians, military commanders, bureaucrats, and business leaders then use those creations for a multitude of reasons. Though science was meant for human development is has been adapted and modified and for destructive purposes like war since ages. Archimedes formalized a method to setting enemy ships on fire using sunlight. In 17th century French military under Napoleon Bonaparte started adapting mathematical techniques in designing fortress to measuring the size of cannon balls. Though these examples show the early adaptations of science, they were of little impact on determining the outcome of a war. This was situation until the beginning of 20th century.
Science and technology have always made substantial impacts on the field of war. The World Wars are no exception. Indeed, WWII saw some of the most substantial advances in technology for good and bad, brought about by advances in science and math that history has ever seen.
World War 1:
It was in World War I that countries realized the potential of science in war. World War I was often referred as the 'The Chemists' war’ because of the extensive use of chemicals like nitrites, poison gas. Germans used chlorine from powerful die industries. Realizing the potential of these chemicals, chemists from these countries were pushed to develop more harmful chemicals to countermeasure the chemicals from the other country. Physicist contributed by developing wireless communication technologies and sound-based methods of detecting U boats. This marked beginning of the scientific research dedicated for war.
At the end of the First World War the nations realized the significance of science and technology in war. Until this time there were just adaptations of existing scientific and technology in war and the scientific research was meant to development. The purpose of science started transforming from 'human development' to 'human destruction'. Governments started funding the research which had a potential in war. The view of war has changed from a mode on 'settlement of issues' to mad race of destruction. Some technologies like atom bomb were developed that could wipe-out an entire city in seconds. Many new mathematical and computational tools like 'game theory’, 'operational research' were developed, all for the purpose of enhancing defense system.
World War 2:
By the late 1940s, Secrecy concerns influenced the practice of science and international communications, and new career opportunities arose as science and technology became significant. Through bilateral efforts, World War II thus nurtured two critical developments that would shape science and technology in the post war world: the imposition of secrecy systems to protect national security concerns, and the creation of scientific intelligence programs to discover foreign progress in science and technology. After the Second World War, the advent of the Cold War solidified the links between military institutions and academic science. Whole new field like digital computing and networking were developed under the military patronage. The extensive military patronage since 1930 changed the face and vision of science.
Conclusion:
In the twentieth century physics is the language of war, dynamics, and mechanisms. Scientists dedicated to military research if interfered in conflict resolution then it was only a matter of politics. War has changed a lot since the past few years and the methodologies will keep changing as technology advances to greater heights.
Saptarshi Prakash,
EE09B076
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