A few months ago, The Economist published a thoughtful leader comparing 21st century biology to 20th century physics. Until about a century ago, we were not aware of the atom and once we did, we thought that was it. Soon we discovered the neutron and the quark. The well-known British weekly argued that ‘the neutron moment’ of biology is yet to arrive but it might happen soon in the early part of this century.

In the last few months, science journals have published a few articles about scientists investigating RNA-based life at the bottom of oceans. At the same time, a huge particle accelerator is being built by CERN to simulate conditions that made the beginning of the universe possible. In another realm, the world media has reported discovery of a couple of earth-like planets in solar systems light-years away from us. An institute based in California, SETI, is engaged in intensive and extensive efforts to find intelligent life in outer space.

If and when scientists make breakthroughs in any of these areas, it will be a different world. Until we knew about the existence of the atom, we knew almost nothing about physics. Similarly, if we find that there is explanation beyond DNA for life-forms, we will realise that we know very little about biology as yet. If, indeed, it is proved in future that there are some intelligent beings in cosmos, our knowledge of the cosmos will have to grow substantially.

Imagine the world only 150 years ago, circa 1857. At that time, the internal combustion engine had not yet been invented, and therefore there were no cars, petroleum, aeroplanes, computers (not to mention internet), and nuclear energy. In a matter of a century and half, the world has changed very significantly. As the speed of change has accelerated, it would be difficult to imagine the world 150 years, or even 100 years from now. We may discover new concepts of life that are simply impossible to envisage today, just as aeroplanes, nuclear energy and computers were not conceived in 1857.

While the most exciting developments are taking place in physics, biology and astronomy, many other areas remain unexplored. Para-psychology is one of them. Almost everyone I know has experienced telepathy; yet we do not have a scientific explanation of this phenomenon.

Our knowledge of history is suspect. Most scholars believe that modern human civilization is about 8-10,000 years old, born in the Palestine region. However, some experts have traced a much older civilization in the eastern lakes area of Africa. A museum in Brussels houses the Ishango bone, which was the first counting tablet, made in Africa about 25,000 years ago. Was there a civilization prior to ours that disappeared in the sands or storms of history? Can we confidently say that it was absolutely not there? How little do we know?

Indeed, if we introspect upon our understanding of any mysteries of life, we would conclude that we know almost nothing. Therefore, I much admire the tenacity and zeal of Americans and Europeans to invest huge amount of funds in the quest for knowledge. It is true that much of the funding is driven by market and military ambitions. However, there is no doubt that a considerable portion of investments are made in fundamental sciences. It is a matter of shame that other rich countries, mostly in Asia and the Middle East, do not show a similar drive to put their money in basic research and exploration. And it was in these countries that some of the initial breakthroughs in knowledge were made about 1000-1500 years ago. The issue is not whether we turn a full circle with Asian and Arab countries again assuming leadership in the development of knowledge with their newly acquired resources. The issue is how the Asians, Arabs, Americans, Europeans and other people in the world can come together in vigorous joint endeavours to advance the frontier of knowledge in the common interest of humanity.

If future of the world depends on joint or individual endeavours in natural sciences and technology, what about subjects like politics, economics and religion? If we have a positively dynamic or at least stable political environment, we can continue our quest for the next 100, 500, 5000 years. It might even be possible to find alternative energy resources that might mitigate the risk of climate change and environmental disasters. However, if we get our politics wrong, we might not have the luxury of the next several centuries to continue our quest of knowledge. And if we get our economics and religion wrong, we will get our politics wrong.

Whether we know very, very little about our universe is not a question. It is a fact. Whether our politics will allow us to continue our journey of life and mind is a question. Indeed, it is the biggest question of our time.