Science without a conscience

Throughout history, the relationship between science and war has remained constant, reflecting the dual nature of human knowledge, which is capable of generating both progress and destruction. From Archimedes, who applied his mathematical and mechanical skills to defend Syracuse with catapults, pulleys, and innovative machines in the third century BCE, to today’s military technologies, science has been a fundamental ally of military power. The introduction of gunpowder in the Middle Ages completely transformed the way war was waged, paving the way for cannons and firearms that reduced the importance of individual skill. During the Renaissance, figures such as Leonardo da Vinci designed war machines that demonstrated the extent to which scientific creativity could be directed towards warfare. The creator of so much artistic beauty also contributed to making war more destructive.