Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
I've long envisioned a giant laboratory somewhere in the universe with a large room with many shelves. On the shelves are many, many large glass containers, each containing an experimental world. Ours is in the section marked "Failures".
I watched the 2017 doc on the Voyager program again a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended for remembering what real competence and humanity are: https://www.pbs.org/the-farthest/
P.S. Had a hard time getting the link protocol to work and gave up. P.P.S. The Cosmic Vine - wow.
@Old_Joe: I've started hoping there'll be enough birds and non-human mammals left behind that they can be dominant mega-life forms for the next iteration after sapiens is done.
I think one of the loveliest sights is our neighboring galaxy Andromeda. Years ago (before Canadian wildfires) I was able to observe it with 12X (image stabilized) binoculars late in October from the back yard for 3 consecutive nights. Not in the detail telescopic images reveal - but the coolest thing I’ve ever observed in the sky. Will never forget it. Have tried to locate it again without success.
Much easier to view is the constellation Phealides - known as ”The Seven Sisters”. With the naked eye they cast a mysterious luminous glow high in the eastern sky. A pair of binoculars easily brings out the details.
I’m still trying to comprehend gravity. From what I’ve read, the weight we feel at our feet is much like how you feel when a fast moving auto slows rapidly or rounds a sharp curve. Earth is trying to move in a straight line, but the curvature of space (created by its displacement by the sun’s mass) won’t allow it to go straight. This results in a constant “braking” action we perceive as gravity. Beam me up, Scottie!
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I watched the 2017 doc on the Voyager program again a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended for remembering what real competence and humanity are: https://www.pbs.org/the-farthest/
P.S. Had a hard time getting the link protocol to work and gave up.
P.P.S. The Cosmic Vine - wow.
Much easier to view is the constellation Phealides - known as ”The Seven Sisters”. With the naked eye they cast a mysterious luminous glow high in the eastern sky. A pair of binoculars easily brings out the details.