NEWS FLASH!
(While watching the news on Jan. 12, 1998 on CNN)
Scientists now know that the universe is not an ever-expanding body that someday will contract into itself (not unlike a cosmic belch). Rather, it is 1/5 the density initially expected and unable to create the gravitational force necessary to contract. Our universe will expand until it burns out to a floating collection of space rocks, scientists say.>
Adding to this is another discovery of an anti-gravitational force, too weak to detect here, but one deals with light years, the effect becomes strong enough to actually accelerate the expansion of the universe, counteracting the slowing effect of gravity.
This seems to have reassured many Nervous Nellies. It was welcome news when NASA scientists announced in January that our sun will burn out in about 4 billion years. This was followed by a public outcry to Washington to deal with this menace. (NO BULL!) CNN, in response to questions on the effect the announcement will have on the stock market, got a curt reply from Merrill Lynch on Wall Street: "We will not make a quote at this time."
Even better news, also reported on January 12, 1998 on CNN, is the discovery of an enzyme in cancer cells that allow normal human cells to retain strength and vigor, able to replicate in a healthy manner indefinitely. This has led scientists at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center to believe that in five years, treatments can be developed to extend the human life span to 200 years, meanwhile increasing the quality of life, virtually eliminating degenerative diseases altogether. Such great news! In a couple of hundred years that might get extended again! Hmmm. . . . .
I've always said, "Give me a thousand years and I could take over the world!"
Just think - If you made a $5.00 savings deposit in Bank of America today, how much would it be worth in 4 billion years?! I can see the shopping spree now. . . ("I just had to move out of that old, dilapidated solar system. I'm going to find a nice planet in the 'burbs, you know. Something brand new and not previously occupied. Oh, don't forget to throw in a sweet little warp-drive cruiser. I need to keep my commute to work in under 20 minutes.)
Now picture Bill Gates in 4 billion years. . . OH, my gods!
But I digress.
One of the most useful things about the new understanding of our universe is that finally there is an end to the perplexing question "How old is the universe?"
Based on previous estimates, the Big Bang was assumed to have occurred 11 billion years ago - well short (by a couple of billion years) of the age of some individual stars. The data finally correlates these two with a data-based Big Bang dating the universe at 15 billion years. Older than any individual star. Welcome news to those who don't care for "chicken or the egg" questions.
I kinda like it the other way, though. It was like a few stars showed up on time to the party, but they'd read their invitations as "Welcome to the Big Bash" instead of "Welcome to the Big Bang" - and before they could go home they were too stoned on planetoids to leave! Talk about a serious Designated Driver problem. . .
Yes, truth is really stranger than fiction. Just remember; if you've been watching the news recently - YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT HERE FIRST!!!
Love,
A Secret Admirer
 |