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PANGEA PROGRESS

Astronomer Chris Impey - How it Ends: From you to the universe 

7/16/2012

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Nature is parsimonious. Most of an organism's ingredients were once part of a variety of long-dead organisms and they will eventually get recycled, perhaps into species that don't yet exist. Think of your atoms as hand-me downs.
We merely borrow our atoms from the biosphere for a short span and at the end -bury or burn-we will return them. The backbone of life is carbon, and ours was forged in the white heat of the centers of stars and burped into space long ago and far away. The universe is 13.7 billion years old, and some of our carbon might date back to the first generations of massive stars over 13 billions years ago, but the great majority of
our carbon atoms are 2 to 8 billion years old.

I mused on the unity of life. Measured by accumulated deviations of the amino acid sequence for the protein cytochrome c, humans overlap 99 percent with rhesus monkeys, 84 percent with chickens, 68 percent with moths, and 60 percent with simple yeast.
Chimps and Humans shared genes as recently as 5 or 6 million years ago. In other words, we bred with chimps for over a million years before the second and final split. Victorians would not have approved and evolution is definitely not for the squeamish.

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The Sun will brighten as it ages...In 500 millions years warming will accelerate  the weathering rate, moving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the oceans. Water from the very warm oceans will rise into the stratosphere and start leaking into space. The oceans will steadily evaporate.
We'll end up in the Sun, vaporizing and blending our material with that of the Sun, part of the Sun then blows away into space, so one might say Earth is cremated and the ashes are scattered into interstellar space.

In the far future universe, most objects are slowly cooling embers: white dwarfs.
..The assembly and disassembly of stars and galaxies is interesting but it's like rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic. Entropy, calling card of the second law of thermodynamics, is the implacable winner.

From Astronomer Chris Impey - How it Ends: From you to the universe 

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The Courage to Be and not to Be -Christopher Hitchens

7/15/2012

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"Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae"  I am not as I was in the reign of good Cinara.

Horace's Odes, Book 4, 1



  • Si fractus illabatur orbis,
    impavidum ferient ruinae.
    • If the world should break and fall on him, it would strike him fearless.
    • Book III, ode iii, line 7.
      • Pulvis et umbra sumus.
        • We are but dust and shadow.
        • Book IV, ode vii, line 16.
        • Brave men were living before Agamemnon.
        • Book IV, ode ix, line 25.
        Horace, Latin in full Quintus Horatius Flaccus    (born December 65 bc, Venusia, Italy—died Nov. 27, 8 bc, Rome)




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Eyes from the Universe 

7/8/2012

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What's in an eye? What does the various expressions and views from the creatures of cosmic evolution tell? What are these views of life? Do you see courage? Warmth? Indifference? Desire? Fear? Dread? Wisdom? These various views of life that exist in the universe lead to a multiple of moments that create a mosaic that is overwhelming to grasp and absorb.
The cosmos is not for one view or for one species. It seems to encompass the passion, indifference, love, terror and peace ...it is beyond any human dogma. When I contemplate this I know this Universe is not a god of love or hate but beyond any such anthropomorphic notions...it has no core personality to defend. The opinions of man are like little kids throwing ice cubes at the sun. In such a Cosmos to quote Moby Dick "whatever my fate I will go to it laughing." It is somewhat ordered, chaotic, amazing, horrific, and absurd. One can only respond in kind.
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    "Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter"
    Dr. Martin Luther King

    Author of Blog
     Born in  the United States of America. Spent my Childhood in Kenya, East Africa. Graduate of  George Mason University in Global Affairs with a concentration in Africa and the Middle East.
    What I desire is not total agreement but thoughtful people. To share ideas and expand knowledge in the era of globalization.