THE VOYAGE OF GLIESE 1 – Part 2 – Why Bother?

The Milky Way Galaxy - Our local universe.

This is the last segment of a blog series on exploring the new exoplanet GL 581g. Here we will discuss some other important considerations and then spend a little time on the overall challenges of deep space exploration. Most importantly we will think more on when, if ever, humankind will take that giant step away from Earth, our solar system, and even our galaxy. For those who ask, why bother, we need to reply seriously and recognize that they may have a valid point.

Our Sun with Milky Way stars up to 20 light years away. Click image to enlarge.

The image above is of our Milky Way and is from An Atlas of The Universe (see Credits for more information). It clearly and graphically emphasizes the immense distances that are involved in any deep space explorations. In fact, our envisioned exploration of GL 581g is actually a pretty short distance by comparison. The image also underscores the possibility, at this point, of a very large number of Earth-like exoplanets to be discovered and explored within just our galaxy. Explorations beyond this seem almost unimaginable, but attainable.

The image above and on the right, also from An Atlas of The Universe, better illustrates where we (our Sun) is in relation to our galaxy. The red dwarf GL 581 and its exoplanets lie just outside the extreme limits of this graphic. They are at 20.3 light years distance from our Sun. They are not shown on this graphic or others in this atlas.  Regardless you can gain an appreciation for the distances involved from Earth.

The above examples of galactic distances supports our plan to continue telescopic investigations of GL 581g before launching a robotic mission to the exoplanet. We envision that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) with all of its special instruments will enable us to more positively confirm the habitability (life support potential) of the exoplanet.

O.K. so what if the JWST finds that GL 581g is not really a good Earth-like candidate for the robotic exploration? Well, like we stated in our first blog article on the Gliese 1’s voyage, the JWST and the spacecraft are flexible in that both are able to detect and explore, respectively, other stars with exoplanets in our galaxy. Additionally, we have yet to even scratch the surface of all the data the Kepler space telescope has provided on stars with potentially habitable exoplanets.

I remember that now, and I can see what you mean, but do we spend the time and money now on all this special space equipment (telescopes and spacecraft)when we may find an ideal candidate closer to home? Our guess is we will eventually find some closer to home, but also know that we believe that it is important to start and continue these deep space explorations now. To simply wait, is like slamming on the brakes in astrophysics and astronomy; even Galileo managed to work around that sorry state. In other words we cannot let that happen for the sake of our very intellectual and human evolution.

There is a strong possibility that life-forms from other planetary systems have explored or are exploring our galaxy and the universe. No, we are not talking about UFOs. What we are saying is that (a) we believe we are not alone, (b) that there are intelligent life-forms out there as intelligent or more so than we are and are just as dedicated to exploration as we are, and (c) some of these life-forms may have detected us in about the same way we have detected GL 581g. All of this would indicate that they may explore our solar system in about the same way we are planning on doing with the GL 581 system.

Well, couldn’t that exploration by them be in the form of UFO’s.? I am not sure I am happy with the idea. All that stuff that is published and talked about on TV makes that sound dangerous and threatening. We think if there has been any visits by ET they have been distant and difficult to detect. As for flashing lights and high-speed, glowing flying-saucers, well that is exciting sci-fi, but if they got that close, we feel they would stop and knock at our doors. We are not ready to accept and agree with Stephen Hawking’s warnings that ET will be aggressive and dangerous.  On the other hand if ET has visited us and has observed our warlike natures he may have scooted on away – permanently.

Some folks have real doubts about the existence of life elsewhere in our galaxy and the universe. They think Earth is unique and a product of spiritual creationism. They sincerely say, why bother? The really wonderful thing about our nation is the ability for any person to believe and espouse anything they want in both philosophy and theology.  The history of humankind is filled with moments where entire cultures and nations have been controlled by those special beliefs.  At the same time, we cannot close our eyes to the science that stands before us, and we must also accept the obligation to explore, discover and explain all that phenomena.  It is our opinion that those efforts produce a new level of reassurance and evolutionary glory that enriches rather than defies any given theology. Who does not, upon looking up into the night sky, become filled both with awe and a sense of oneness will all that surrounds us. For us, that is a warm, reassuring and sustaining experience that also prods us to keep on exploring and explaining.

Wow, that is quite a viewpoint. Do you think some folks are more frightened than offended by all this scientific exploration? Thank you, and that is a good question.  We do not have any idea about the ratio of those offended to those frightened by all that science and exploration uncovers and explains or tries to explain. We can see where this can be disturbing when we cannot come up, immediately, with clear and precise answers. At the same time, that very difficulty increases the demand for us to find clear and precise answers. We call this exploration.

In answer to the question, why bother? First of all it is not a bother, it is, as I hope we explained throughout the Explorology blog,  an imperative. Yes, we are still seeking the answer to how life developed here and expectedly everywhere in the universe, but as we get closer to that answer and as we find the presence of life throughout our galaxy and beyond we are fulfilled and enriched. It is like we are responding to an inborn quest to find answers and in doing it, we literally expand who we are and why we are probably here. That to us is the one and only real answer to why bother.

The prospect of eventually, robotically, visiting GL 581g and its neighboring exoplanets or some other candidate exosolar system is both exciting and demanding. If we should find life in some form on that planetary body then we have moved one giant step forward in understanding the glory, wonderment and promise of life throughout this universe. We, therefore, chose to bother!

CREDITS:

The images from An Atlas of The Universe are the result of very dedicated work by its creator Richard Powell and are made possible here by the permissions included in the Atlas’s Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.  You may click here to visit the Atlas site.

FLIPPING THE FLOP

What an incredible achievement Homo sapiens are. At the moment, what an incredible flop, Homo sapiens are. What? How dare I say that. Look at all the great discoveries, scientific advances, medical breakthroughs, and great artistic contributions humankind has made. Yes, and look at all the wars, all the destructiveness, and all the ongoing disrespect for the life around us that we humans have also accomplished.

Oh no, this is going to be one of THOSE blog articles! The answer is both yes and no. Please, don’t run away, stick with us and see where we are going.

It is just a theory, but when all those myriad interactions were occurring that brought about life on this planet, there had to be considerable aggressiveness present to press the evolutionary process forward. Certainly that aggressiveness was essential to ensure the eventual development of we humans. The theory is that this aggressiveness has remained a distinct element within our genetic makeup that leads us to consider that we, and only we are the eminent life-form on this planet and possibly within the universe. This is an incorrect and dangerous conceit that stands to march us right into extinction.

Okay that is the bad news. The good news is that as we grow increasingly conscious of our celestial surrounds, and particularly the possibility of life all over the universe, we have become intensely interested in how life began. It is this exploratory process that stands to flip us out of our flop state and into an amazing joint, compatriot status with all of life. We still do not have the real answers on how life began, but our search is producing many new discoveries that tease and challenge our intellect while shaking out the smugness of our original conceit.

Oh yes, we are quite powerful, but we are also quivering weaklings before the powers of cancer and many deadly viruses. We are beginning to sense the existence of a partnership of life in which we aren’t in charge, but just a more complex, more versatile, and a more terrifying life-form. Most significantly we now know that each of us carries around with us an entire universe of life on and within us. At last we are beginning to respect that reality rather than seeking to escape or banish it. The flip is beginning!

So, according to this theory, should humankind become, tepid, non-aggressive creatures that mellow out in the shadows? Absolutely not! We, hopefully, are moving toward the process in which we redirect our aggressiveness to foster and protect all life and to devise ways to co-exist productively.  Yep, part of our evolutionary pattern is our entrepreneurial behaviors. There is nothing wrong with this. Where it has gone wrong is how we manage that urge within the life around us. Believe it or not, if we manage our eagerness to encompass and enrich our living environment we will enjoy greater achievement and wealth. Most importantly we will make sure our future existence and the safety of our home planet for millions of years to come. This is sensible and sound investing.

Meanwhile, the explorations of the life-forms around us and throughout the solar system certify that our pro-life strategy becomes not just a global strategy but one that we will apply throughout our solar system and beyond. Do not be surprised that as we make these positive changes that suddenly visitations from ET and friends will begin to occur.  Oh, oh, the fear mongers are arming up, and if they do we need to squelch it at once. The fact that ET exists at all is a clear sign that life preservation and enhancement is a success elsewhere in the universe.

No, don’t shake your head and shout out “dream on sucker!” This is not a dream,  this is a statement of the reality we must both accept and enhance in order to keep the evolution engine well oiled and on track. All that life around us, acknowledges our superior existence and depends upon us to move the entire universe of life safely forward. So we have not lost our importance, and we stand at the threshold to gather all life around us and set sail across the celestial sea. We search and explore and in doing so we sustain and enrich life wherever we find it. Homo sapiens are now the guardians of life. The flip is done, well done.

CREDITS:

Backlight Dance by Jack Wolsky: From the Life Class Exhibit. Courtesy of the Rochester City Newspaper  http://bit.ly/cp4TvD

I COSMOS – Exploring Life

Cosmos (def): An ordered, harmonious whole.  Homo sapiens: An ordered, harmonious whole when in homeostasis. Homeostasis (def): The ability or tendency of an organism or cell to support internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes.

Philosophers, psychologists, medical researchers, theologists, evolutionary biologists, astrobiologists and an array of other sciences continually seek to explain life. They seek to explain it from its lowest form to its highest known form; Homo sapiens. In all cases the prevailing constant is the uniformity of structure or harmonious whole. From the lowest unicellular life form to human life forms each are a cosmos.  In the case of humans we are a cosmic array of many cosmos. Our brains, alone, are networks of interconnected cosmos. The fractal image we have included above, in our opinion, represents the cosmos networks we present here. It is not intended as an exact mapping, but only as a depiction of those interconnected systems within systems. Each system is a cosmos and may also host more cosmos within itself; almost ad infinitum.

Sonogram of 26wk human fetus.

In human reproduction, the male sperm is a cosmos (an ordered harmonious whole) and the female egg is also a cosmos (an ordered harmonious whole). When fertilization occurs there is a massive replication of cosmos that would be similar to the fractal image above. As the process continues a human life form is created, and it is a cosmos of systems upon systems of cosmos. This human-to-be is an awesome, majestic linkage of harmonious wholeness. Scientists continue to search for all the links that show how life progressed on this planet, and most probably on other habitable planets throughout this universe. Understanding the evolution of life on this planet is absolutely necessary for us to decide if and at what level life may exist on other planetary bodies here in our solar system and beyond.

The following is a direct quote from the National Academies of Science report, “The Astrophysical Context of Life”:

The past decade has seen a remarkable revolution in genomic research, the discoveries of extreme environments in which organisms can live and even flourish on Earth, the identification of past and possibly present liquid-water environments in our solar system, and the detection of planets around other stars. Together these accomplishments bring us much closer to understanding the origin of life, its evolution and diversification on Earth, and its occurrence and distribution in the cosmos.

By relating life to the cosmos concept we seek to promote the growing awareness of the total interconnectedness of all energy forms within the universe.  Yes there are many distinctions, all glorious, but there is also a common thread that we can best define as COSMOS.  So perhaps a more complex and larger fractal system actually defines the universe and all that is within it.  Calling it Cosmos means that all within it meet the definition of being an ordered and harmonious whole.

We have not yet achieved that realization scientifically, and there is much to uncover and relate before we do. Our confidence is that we will arrive at that

The Coma Supercluster of Galaxies

realization which will expand human awareness of our beginnings, our presence and our future.  It will also, hopefully, instill an awed appreciation for all that surrounds us and the challenges and responsibilities that this awareness places upon us.  We are Cosmos within a greater Cosmos, and it is highly probable it is part of an even greater Cosmos. The fractal concept in this vision implies infinite connectivity. Intensely humbling while at the same time insuring the viability of Cosmos at all levels.

CREDIT:(1) The fractal image above is from the website The Code Project and from an article on fractal generation by Peter Kankowski. You may visit the website and the article by selecting this link (2) The image of a 26 week human fetus is a sonogram image from the website that presents an “Overview of Fetal Development.” You may visit this site by selecting this link.  (3) The astrophotograph of the Coma Supercluster is by this author, and in his opinion clearly illustrates the interconnectedness of COSMOS.

DEEPLY FREE – Exploring the Deep Blue Sea

“What is a scientist after all? It is a curious man looking through a keyhole, the keyhole of nature, trying to know what’s going on.” Jacques Cousteau

After hours of training and a month’s worth of neophyte scuba diving, I finally got confident and relaxed enough to begin to really observe and interact with my surroundings.  So, at about 40 feet under the Caribbean Sea, I sat down next to a reef full of complex life and began to introduce myself.

I could not have been alone for more than five minutes, when they began to arrive from all directions; a Kaleidoscope of sea life. In an instant I was eyeball to eyeball with an absolutely breathtaking beauty; a Queen Angelfish. Just above my head, a busy little Clown Fish was trying to figure if my waving hair was some unique Sea Anemone; then a squadron of Sergeant Major fish, in tight formation, whizzed by me rolling their eyes as they passed. The strange sequence of my escaping air bubbles betrayed my laughter.

Suddenly my new friends all disappeared and everything grew quite still. Surprised, I turned to look around, and there right behind me were four very large, very inquisitive Barracuda; seemingly frozen in place.  I knew they were not dangerous and so I sat very still and stared at them, and they, in turn,  stared back at me. I bubbled out “Hi” and with looks of both shock and disdain they, in an instant, fled.

Time was up, and time for me to ascend back into Earthworld.  Yes, down beneath the sea we are in a different world.  It is so unique, so stunningly beautiful and potentially challenging that you quickly realize you are only a visitor. The combination of contrived weightlessness from my buoyancy compensator and the expansiveness of the environment overpowered me with a sense of complete, peaceful freedom. I did not want to leave.

All of this magnificence is under duress from the pressure of our general ignorance or intentional indifference to this universe of the deep blue sea. We are polluting it, over-harvesting its marine life, abusing its reef environments and generally ignoring it critical role in sustaining all life on Earth.

In future issues of this blog we will explore with some of the most important and famous undersea explorers to learn more about life in the deep and how its life thrives and in thriving helps to preserve our lives. Please join us on these future expeditions.

Special Note: Twitter members are encouraged to find and follow the family members of Jacques Cousteau who continue to help us understand a universe that occupies over 70.8% of our planet.

CREDITS:

The beautiful coral reef picture is from Science Matter in an article by Kristen Rosenthal.

URGENT EXPLORATIONS: Summary

Yes, I know, I only selected four areas to discuss under this topic, and as all readers know there are many more.  My point, however, is that if we attend to the four “E’s” we will be in better place to attend to the many other issues that keep us from becoming a fully spacefaring civilization.  Please notice, I maintain we must treat all of this as a global issue, thus civilization instead of nation as the focus.

In Education, for example, the United States has dropped to twelfth place among the thirty plus nations with high levels of college graduates. We must catch up, not to lead, but to bolster the international population of skilled and well-trained young people.

In Energy, our Congress, held in the tight grip of special interests, can not come together to move ahead in establishing the type of energy policy that, again, helps us fulfill our international obligations.

All citizens of planet Earth have the responsibility to preserve and protect our Environment because unless we take care of our planet we degrade the very source of our spacefaring abilities.

Regardless of the level and vitality of global Enterprise, unless we have mastered the three “E’s” above our creative, and bold efforts are feeble at best.

Perhaps our biggest and hardest challenge is making the transition from warfare to spacefare.  Aside from the theopolitical and sociopolitical ideologies that batter the global conscience, humankind’s prehistoric obsessions with tribal-style governance tears us apart and keeps us apart as citizens of Earth.  Look at the image on the left above.  This is a grouping of international students at George Mason University in the United States.  I do not read hostility on their faces, I read interest, attention and even tranquility in their expressions. Would they vote for more warfare or opt for the promise of exciting and rewarding spacefare? I suspect, I hope, in fact, I believe they would vote for spacefare.

The results of space-exploration related enterprise will expand opportunity across the globe for all levels of skills and interests.  This extension and enhancement of opportunity directly mediates the impact of sociopolitical constraints and stands as a strong catalyst for world peace.  As for the impact of theopolitcal ideologies, the very presentation and access of our civilization to the mysteries, glories and challenges of the universe enhance rather than challenge spiritual philosophies. This too, becomes a strong catalyst for world peace.

Lastly,  our global social structures are based upon the power of the few and the democratic or otherwise control of the people.  Yes, we will always need leadership and support for the rights of the people, but in the venue of a spacefaring civilization we have the opportunity to build an egalitarian civilization.

Why would we chose otherwise?  Why not start now? Please don’t misinterpret this as the expansion of a “techie” culture. I am talking about a civilization that sees far beyond just the present and the local scene. We chose to reach out and explore, to discover, and to explain all that surrounds us.  Most importantly in doing so, we humbly seek to enhance and enrich our civilization as well as those we may come across in our future explorations. Let’s not delay, let’s start that process today.

CREDIT:

Image: From Flikr: Image of a gathering of international students at George Mason University (GMU) in the United States.

URGENT EXPLORATIONS: Doing Our Homework – Lesson 2: Environment

Not only is it a “blue marble” it is also a blue marvel.  Our home, planet Earth, is an amazing confluence of the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) and life.  Right now, it is the only planet we are certain of that produces and supports life.   The millions of other Earth-sized, potentially habitable planets in the universe are, as yet, unproven hosts. That seems to me to signal an important reality.  If we hope to continue and progress as a civilization we need to take special care of our home.  To become homeless in this galaxy and the universe would be brief and most likely painful. Additionally, if we truly wish to reach out and explore our surrounding solar system and maybe our galaxy, we must carefully preserve and protect our home base. In the broad sense we are talking about our environment; lesson 2 in our homework assignment.

Environment:

Extreme views on both sides of the issue claim either the planet is dying or that we are being misled by overzealous liberals who twist science to fit their arguments.  Certainly some of the serious levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a by-product of the bellowing arguments of politicians, lobbyists and serious environmentalists. As we know, despite sound evidence, critical warnings and appeals, we continue to steadfastly work to destroy our only home.  At the rate this is happening, we may kill Earth before we ever succeed in terraforming (if that is even an effective method) the Moon, Mars or some other distant solar system moon.

Put simply, this behavior has to stop, and stopping it will take more than the earnest and sincere efforts of the “Green Corps.”  We must evolve an entirely new lifestyle that enables us to continue to progress as a spacefaring civilization while doing our utmost to restore, preserve and protect our blue marvel.  All of this can be a very positive activity and not the negative, and destructive measures that many large corporations, misguided politicians, and equally misguided citizens proclaim.  It is an exploratory challenge.  Industry must find new ways to produce, politicians must return to representing we-the-people instead of big business, and we all must take time and effort to turn around our misguided citizens.  None of these are easy tasks, but each hour that we ignore the challenge, our wish to explore beyond our home drifts further away from our realization.

This is not just about alternative energies or global warming. It is about oceans that are shedding the precious life they contain, it is about greenness that gives way to greed, and it is about humankind that continues to abuse both itself and its environment.  It is also about a civilization that has strong desires to reach out and explore where no human has ventured before.  In order to do that we must first venture forth here on Earth.  Industry must explore and develop new ways to produce in a non-poisonous way. Politicians must unite (gasp) and move to give both laws and incentives that encourage both civil and public entities to actively pursue safe environmental practices. Equally important, we citizens of Earth must reach out to educate and support our fellow humans in their efforts to help preserve and protect our blue marvel.  Not easy tasks in any venue, but vital.  If we fail, we lose and in losing we go nowhere and we wither away as one more failed civilization in the universe.  Oh yes, I know right now we are not sure there are more of us, but science pretty well certifies that there is, and if it is at or has been at the stage we are in now, then it may have prospered and is awaiting our visit, or it may have failed and no longer exists. We should strive for that meet up, not our disappearance.

Am I preaching this with crossed fingers?  I am definitely not.  I no longer use a vehicle, I walk, run or use public transportation. I strive to cut my carbon footprint further by carefully recycling and by not using energy resources when I do not need them.  Just think about all of us, globally doing these very personal acts to support and save our environment.  Very worthwhile and important, but not enough to save our home.  Everything, globally must change, but it must change positively and with clear progress.  We accomplish nothing if all we do is shake our fists, scream and holler and blame big industry while we drive away in out big, big gas burner vehicle.  If we shake our fists, let it be in encouragement for industry that take steps to grow bigger and environmentally safer.  If we scream and shout let it be in praise of every citizen that is taking direct steps to lower their personal carbon footprint. If we place blame, let it be on ourselves for nodding in agreement and doing nothing.

I will never have the opportunity to explore space, even a quick trip to our Moon, but should that deter me from making sure that future generations have that opportunity?  As I have written throughout this Explorolgy blog, we are mandated by our very existence to explore.  In order to explore we first must preserve our launch point – planet Earth. Will you start today?  If you do, take time to hug a tree, it helps supply your breath of life.