I have always been fascinated by the process of evolution.  Its amazing how technology has advanced through inventions and discoveries.

The first systems of writing can be traced back to 3400 BC but this was not a unique occurrence.

Over the next two thousand years, at least three other full writing systems were invented independently in different parts of the world.  Inventions can also be traced back to multiple origins.

The blast furnace was invented independently in Africa, China and Europe.  Magnetism was discovered independently in Greece, China and India. 

In the field of chemistry, oxygen was discovered by multiple independent scientists across the globe. Its hard to swallow that all these multiple discoveries and inventions were just coincidental examples of serendipity.  

I wonder if humans are destined to evolve from cavemen to rocket scientists and beyond in a pre-programmed way. Perhaps is there something coded in our DNA which precipitates discoveries and inventions when we are presented with the right combinations of data and physical elements. Whoever manages to crack that code will discover the meaning of life.

We look back in history and deem our ancestors to be primitive but they were all at the peak of groundbreaking technology for their time.  We will seem equally primitive today by those who will look back on us thousands of years from now.  

Recently I saw a rocket launched from the Wallops space center. I was in awe for a few moments but soon after returned to my daily tasks as if I had just seen something routine.  Rocket science is not rocket science if you are a rocket scientist.