The Quest for Clarity

       The use of photography and videography has been continuously advancing our understanding of the world and ourselves, having the power to capture reality in a fixed frame.  However, when it comes to violent photos and documentations, I wasn't fully prepared for the onslaught of nightmares I would experience.     As an engineer, my father loves solving unfathomable problems and mysteries, and some of his favorite sources of entertainment are murder mystery documentaries from shows like Forensic Files and airplane disasters/Mayday specials found on YouTube.  Little did I know, his fascination with these violent graphics would imprint deeply on my psyche, shaping my daily behavior with constant fear.  As a child, I couldn't help but eavesdrop into the speaker of my dad's phone.  "How could I miss out on such a significant story?", I thought to myself.  I couldn't let the opportunity pass. I had to hear the climax of the documenta...

      In "The Virgin and the Mousetrap," Chet Raymo explores the battle between danger and innovation in scientific discovery.  While the narrative primarily focuses on radioactive materials, the theme can be seen upon various fields where the pursuit of knowledge is intertwined with risk.     One such arena is space exploration, where the quest to reach beyond Earth's atmosphere has often been deemed outlandish.  From early expeditions shut down by technical failures to more recent tragedies like the Challenger and Columbia disasters, the journey to the stars has been marked by sacrifice.  Yet, our understanding of the cosmos have been caused by eye-opening breakthroughs in technology, such as the Mars Rover mission.  The vast and never-ending excitement of discovery in space exploration has enhanced our understanding and our capabilities beyond our planet, which is an amazing feat.     Similarly, the field of genetic engineering p...

      The concept of self-control has been the most interesting yet mind-boggling mystery to me for many years, and I think the complex nature of this concept transcends facile explanations that requires a deeper look into human behavior.  And as I write this blog post, I am still unsure and lost in the forest of what to claim given the complex spectrum of possibilities. However, given the captivating nature of this subject, I still feel inclined to write and share about my opinion of self-control (even if it may not be accurate), and its several possible factors that stems from the human theme of threat since the beginning of our existence.     Among the challenges life brings us, the fear of losing control looms large.  From struggling to meet basic needs to facing societal pressures, everyone feels threatened in their own way.  Even those who seem to have it all can’t escape the anxiety of maintaining their status.  This fear has been with...