Saturday, March 22, 2008
“My god, it’s full of stars..”
The death of author and scientist Arthur C Clarke this week produced some excellent responses to his life and work in the media and in blogs across the world, including this one by WorldByStorm at the Cedar Lounge. Although there was also, I’d suggest, one not-so-excellent response in the New York Times to Clarke’s written directions for his funeral today, “Absolutely no religious rites of any kind, relating to any religious faith, should be associated with my funeral”. To me the NYT article reads like a by-now familiar attempt to re-entwine reason and religion and, in its final lines, misses mis-presents the implications of the quote from Clarke, “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” ANYhoo.. Personally, while I enjoyed many of Clarke’s books I was more of an Asimov fan in my younger days, as well as a fan of The Stainless Steel Rat, and latterly, Terry Pratchett [new link] and Ian M Banks. Meanwhile, in a coincidental nod to Clarke, whose Sentinel in the 2001 novel originally transmitted a message towards Saturn rather than the 2001 film’s Jupiter, NASA revealed this week that the Cassini-Huygens probe has indicated that Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may have both liquid water and organic molecules under a frozen surface. [Animation credit: NASA/JPL]
The above video is a NASA animation of Cassini’s approach to Saturn’s moon Titan revealing the suspected layering.
Here’s a previous post on Kubrick’s, and Clarke’s, 2001: A Space Odyssey - “My god, it’s full of stars”
And a repeat of this video in tribute. Enjoy.
Adds Another detailed biography here.
And another interesting post here
Pete Baker @ 02:06 PM
It’s now accepted that Earth was quite possibly seeded via debris from the outer solar system several billion years ago.
I’d say that’s putting it a little strongly, Greenflag. This is one theory out of several of how life might have come about on earth. But it’s not a theory about the origins of life itself; after all, if we were seeded from elsewhere, then life must have started elsewhere, and if we accept that it can start elsewhere spontaneously then it’s not hard to accept that it could have started spontaneously here.
It’s possible that we are the first species in the universe to evolve to where we are now. The parameters required for life to flourish require a long series of intricate coincidences.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 10:24 PMGreat Blog Pete, I love these types of entries, it takes the whole principle of occasionally looking beyond our own wee shores to its greatest possible conclusion.
Has anyone else heard the latest thinking that our own solar system may have many many more planets than previously thought?Oh, and Sagan’s series can be found online, if you know where to look.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 11:15 PMGlad we can look at ACC’s world and stretch beyond the bounds of Slugger’s beloved Donaghcloney :)
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 12:02 AMPete - I love the fact that in amongst the politics, there’s room on Slugger for you to pursue your passion for space. Do keep reminding us that there’s more to life than politicians and their followers mincing each other’s words.
Next up, you need to start campaigning to keep the Armagh Observatory operating ... not sure if their current financial woes will affect the recently refurbed planetarium next door?
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 12:20 AMCStalin,
‘I’d say that’s putting it a little strongly, Greenflag. This is one theory out of several of how life might have come about on earth.’
It’s generally accepted that life began on earth approx 3.8 billion years ago or approx 500 million years after Earth had formed . The exact how, and where on earth it started is still to be determined . Scientists now know that the Earth 3.8 billion years ago would not have been the kind of place that could sustain life as we know it today.
‘But it’s not a theory about the origins of life itself’
IIRC I avoided that issue :)
It is possible that we are the ‘first’ ‘intelligent’ life in this universe -It’s also possible that we may be the last. The universe began some 13 .5 billion years ago . 9 billion year after that the Earth was formed . 8.5 billion years after that ‘life’ began and it took ‘life almost 4 billion years to get to us . Along the way there have been several wholesale extinctions of life forms e.g the Cambrian and the dinosaur (65 ) million years ago without which ‘humanity’ could not have evolved.
‘The parameters required for life to flourish require a long series of intricate coincidences.’
Lfe at a basic microbial or cellular level may form more frequently throughout the universe and just as often become extinct due to ‘cosmic’ conditions only to start up somewhere else . Here on Earth ‘life’ has survived ,adapted and evolved to all of the challenges which have threatened it over the past 4 billion years . One day the ‘luck’ will run out . Our Sun will eventually become a Red Giant Star and the Earth will become a barren cinder several billion years from now .
In the meantime I suggest we make the most of this ‘gratifying ‘ and supremely ‘lucky’ life experience:)
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 10:47 AMDolittle,
‘Sagan was a genius.
‘His catchphrase was ‘billions and billions’.’
And at that point I usually nodded off . I don’t know if i’m unusual in having found Carl’s voice hypnotic :)?
IIRC I gave up on science fiction in my teens . Not until until Arthur C Clarke came along with his fims 2001 and the follow up did I rekindle a temporary interest in the genre :)
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 11:00 AMI didn’t know that about Terry Pratchett. That is sad.
A real wordsmith.
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 12:16 PMBlake’s Seven was the best.
Posted by on Mar 23, 2008 @ 04:02 PM
