# General Science Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132 "2000-08-29T02:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/101 "2000-09-21T23:49:17Z")
The naked female form is the most important discovery ever. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/102 "2000-09-22T01:05:18Z")
The most useful invention, with the greatest impact, is the fuel cell. Okay, it hasn’t had the greatest impact **yet**. But just wait and see. It will. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/103 "2000-09-23T00:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lord Davidson \* > \*\*The naked female form is the most important discovery ever. \*\* Have _you_ discovered it yet? ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/104 "2000-09-24T03:25:58Z")
There are two kinds of thing you can eat. 1. Things that are nutritious. 2. Things that kill you. The best discovery was telling them apart. Sounds stupid, but without it, we would all be dead. ---
**Author:** ![thornz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@thornz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thornz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/105 "2000-11-10T02:31:50Z")
I’d have to agree with whoever designated language as being the greatest discovery. that and pop tarts. furthemore, I think the real greatest discovery was self awareness. This is kinda up there with language. If you look at a dog, it doesnt know it’s a dog. It’s not only that it doesnt know it’s a canine, or any specific label, it’s just that it doesnt know what or when or how it exists or even that it exists. It knows it has to pee on occasion, eat frequently, and avoid pain. The rest it learns, more or less, but only to attain those three biological ends. The greatest scientific discovery was just that, the discovery of science. The discovery of the ability to ask “why?”. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/106 "2000-11-10T02:52:29Z")
thornz wrote: > [@](#): > > that and pop tarts. Particularly strawberry Pop Tarts. If you leave them in the toaster long enough, they will ignite, and the flames can shoot as much as two feet upward. (Don’t try this at home, kids.) ---
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132/107 "2000-11-10T04:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thornz \* > I’d have to agree with whoever designated language as being the greatest discovery. > > that and pop tarts. > \*\*furthemore, I think the real greatest discovery was self awareness. This is kinda up there with language. \*\* Seems that you overlooked this previous post of mine: > [@](#): > > The greatest discovery of the human race is CONSCIOUSNESS. > Consciousness brings about AWARENESS of the self and his/her surroundings. > Awareness ignites CURIOSITY. > Curiosity employs REASON to solve the enigmas that motivate it. > Reason allows for science, technology and overall KNOWLEDGE. > Knowledge facilitates SURVIVAL and eases the burdens provided by life. > Survival is, either instinctively or consciously, the grand objective of any species. > > So CONSCIOUSNESS it is. In any case, we are both incorrect in our assertions. The OP inquired about scientific discoveries. Evidently, the genesis of consciousness/awareness precedes any scientific agenda and as such fails to satisfy the criteria specified by the original question. ## Anyway, lets not nit-pick much about it. BTW, nice of you to revive this thread. It was nice to look back on one of the first threads I ever participated on! **Yoda** or **Yogurt**? A dilemma for the ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-science-question/31132.md?page=5)