Physics in textile science

Civilization is reported to have existed for some 6000 years. During this period, man has been occupied with the problems of feeding, clothing, housing, and protecting himself by making better use of the elements of nature he found so abundantly around him. Not everyone agrees that over the centuries he has done this in a manner which has achieved for him peace, happiness, independence, and security for which he has struggled. Without adding to this argument, one can at least say that during this period man has developed the physical arts to a very high degree. The most remarkable advances in the physical arts have occurred during the past 300 years, the period to which is credited the birth and growth of scientific thought. A quick glance at the last 30 years of the physical arts would lead one to the conclusion that their development has been taking place on an exponential time scale. Only the most pessimistic among us would conclude that the rate of further development must soon slow down. In any event, we would all agree that developments in basic science during the past few years have opened the way to developments in the physical arts which, but a few short years ago, would have seemed unlikely, if not impossible, to all but the most optimistic.