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Did you know how scientific research transcends human boundaries of time and space?
The wonder of science lies in its ability to explore both large and small objects, from vast galaxies to microscopic molecules. Human beings' understanding of the physical world is often limited by their own scale. Human intuition and experience only apply within a certain range. Beyond this range, understanding becomes difficult. Scientific research attempts to fill this knowledge gap and open up new horizons for us, whether it is the vast universe or the tiny world of atoms.
“Human numbers and expectations in many ways underscore the paradox of science, that our attention, perception, and life experience cannot accommodate concepts that are too large or too small.”
The human scale encompasses the physical characteristics of the body, movement and perception, indicating the scope of human activity. In architecture, understanding ergonomics is crucial. The purpose of architectural design is to create comfortable and functional environments that must be in harmony with human dimensions and behavior.
“Human sensory capabilities and physical characteristics require architectural design to take into account the people they serve.”
In this context, the design of buildings is often considered according to the "human scale", such as the height of doors, the slope of stairs and the height of seats. These designs change with the evolution of human culture and society, which makes the space surrounding humans not only functional, but also aesthetic. Many contemporary architects try to match ergonomics with vision, sound and light in their designs to enhance the user experience.
"Although the goal of science is to achieve precise and objective results, human perception of the environment is influenced by culture, experience, and expectations."
In some cases, however, designers may deliberately distort the human scale to achieve some social or aesthetic effect. For example, many large monuments and statues, such as the "Mother Calls Ancestor" statue in Volgograd, are constructed on a "larger than life" scale in order to convey a deeper socio-cultural significance. This kind of "transcendental" design purpose is often used to emphasize the importance of an event or theme and provoke deep thought.
In addition, the design of urban environments, especially commercial buildings, often takes the convenience of car use into consideration. Commercial buildings may be designed differently to be easily recognized from a high-speed driving perspective, emphasizing how complex humans interact with the space around them. The evolution of urban form is also driven by the choices of managers and developers, such as Los Angeles in the 1920s, when developer A.W. Ross created a recognizable architectural style suitable for automobiles, allowing buildings to move more easily while driving. Displayed in a discernible way.
"Architectural design is not only a physical construction, but also an extension of culture, soul and society."
Interestingly, despite the continuous advancement of technology, the scientific community still emphasizes common sense and intuition in understanding and applying human-scale things. For example, systems of weights and measures evolved from direct reliance on human measurements of feet and cubits to more precise metric units that remained similar to human experience. This raises a key question for us: can scientific research retain its connection with human life as we transcend the boundaries of human perception?
As we explore deeper, from micro to macro phenomena in nature, science is not only an explanatory tool, but also a process of continuous evolution. The challenge for scientists is to bring these seemingly far-fetched numbers back into everyday understanding for each of us. Such efforts are not only a challenge to the boundaries of human understanding, but also an exploration that echoes the characteristics of human beings themselves. When science and human scales intersect, can we think more deeply about our place in the universe?
