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                         The Big Bang (Made Simple) 
              (The Creation of our Solar Sytem, and Life Therein)              
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                         Boris Karloff Dec 16, 1994                       
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        Have you ever gazed at the stars,  and  pondered not only their
        vastness  and  beauty,   but also the methodology and reasoning
        behind their existence? I know I have.  Even as a child I would
        stare at the heavens,  hoping  to catch a glimpse of a comet or
        other moving  celestial  mass,   and watch in bewilderment with 
        peaked curiosity when  a pulsar  flashed or a star flickered in 
        the heavens far above me.   Since my first glance up above,   I  
        believed there was  life  out  there,  somewhere far out there, 
        hiding in the multitudes of  stars that light up our night sky.   
        Simplistic were my views at such a tender age, but reflecting a 
        belief that only strengthened with age and education.  How tiny 
        we are I thought...  and how small and insignificant I now know 
        we are.

        We have all pondered the question of life elsewhere in the uni-
        verse, whether in an observatory, in a classroom, or within our
        hearts... and always desired even the tiniest shred of evidence
        to answer the question either way.   Asked have we, "Why are we
        here. How did we get here."  And, "Are there other planets with
        similar conditions elsewhere in the universe?" To fully compre-
        hend the structure and basis of our  existence,  as well as the 
        existence of other life or  planets with similar conditions, we 
        must first understand how our own Milky Way was created.

        Most of us have heard of the "Big Bang" theory, but many do not 
        understand its execution and workings to an appreciable degree.
        I hope to clarify some of the more obscure aspects of this, the
        most widely recognized and accepted theory regarding the origin 
        of our galaxy.

        It all began with an immense,  swirling dust cloud,  consisting 
        of 90 percent hydrogen, 9 percent helium,  and small quantities
        of oxygen, neon, nitrogen, carbon, silicon, magnesium, iron and
        other trace elements making up the final 1 percent.   Atoms and
        molecules of the solid compounds such as carbon, silicon, iron,
        magnesium and sulphur attracted each other,  and "plantesimals"
        were formed.  These somewhat large concentrations of solid mat- 
        erials eventually formed what became the solid cores of planets.
        As  hydrogen  comprised  the  vast  majority  of the  atoms, it 
        combined with most  of  the  other  elements,  H2O (water) with 
        oxygen,  NH3 (ammonia)  with  nitrogen,  and CH4 (methane) with 
        carbon for example. The noble (inert) gases helium (atomic #2), 
        neon (atomic #10),  argon (atomic #18),   krypton (atomic #36), 
        xenon (atomic #54),  and radon (atomic #86),  would not combine                       
        with any other elements due to their inert properties, and thus 
        stayed in their original form.  Some of these elements, as well 
        as some of the  other  gases  (NH3 (ammonia) for example)  were 
        solids at the low temperatures  prevolent at the time the earth 
        was forming.   Thus they were combined with the other solids in
        the swirling dust cloud that formed the "planetesimals."   Even
        the gaseous elements and molecules had been trapped in quantity
        within the core of our forming planet.

        At this time, the gargantuous interior mass of the gaseous dust
        cloud had condensed  with  such  an  extreme pressure, so as to 
        generate great internal  temperatures  eventually  igniting the
        formidable mass of  hydrogen  and  creating our sun.  The great
        heat generated by our newly  formed sun vapourized all the sub-
        stances with low boiling temperatures,  and they escaped to the 
        exterior of our new planet Earth.  An atmosphere began to form.    
        The distance between the  Earth  and  the sun was such that the
        temperature was warm  enough  to evaporate the above molecules,
        yet cool enough to keep the  speed of the molecules down enough
        for the gravitational force to maintain the atmosphere.   Other
        planets possessed  alternate  atmospheres  dependeding on their
        distance from the sun.   Mercury's  proximity to the sun was so 
        close as to heat up  the  gas  molecules to such a temperature, 
        that their speed  proved  excessive  for its gravitational pull
        to maintain.   These gases were swept outward by the solar wind
        and collected by the larger planets at greater distances.   The
        outer planets suffered a  different fate.   Their gas molecules 
        were cool enough to keep them  extremely slow moving,  allowing
        their gravitational pull to keep all gas  molecules and attract
        others that originated from the centre of the solar system. The
        larger sizes attest to their  ability  to maintain dense atmos-
        pheres, consisting mainly of hydrogen  and  hydrogen compounds, 
        helium, ammonia, and methane.  Venus, Earth and Mars managed to
        hold some of their gases.   Venus  and Earth faired the best of
        the three, however they all  managaed to collect atmospheres of
        ammonia, methane, and  hydrogen  sulfide.   The water molecules
        that were trapped during the creation of the planet cores,  now
        escaped and formed oceans  and  a small amount of vapour in the
        atmospheres.   Earth had large oceans forming,  Venus,  smaller
        and warmer had substancially  less  moisture,  and Mars yielded 
        the least volume.   Therefore, the basis of life began with the
        creation of a reducing atmosphere on earth.

        Complex molecules of carbon and hydrogen atoms formed utilizing
        carbon,  the  readily  available  hydrogen,   and  ultra-violet 
        radiation from the sun.   As  oxygen was not yet present in the 
        atmosphere,  the UV radiation was not blocked.  The oceans were 
        about to form the first building blocks of life.   Simple  life 
        forms made up of complex  molecules  began  to fill the oceans, 
        hovering approximately twelve feet below the surface to protect 
        themselves from the ultra-violet radiation (since the radiation 
        could also break down complex molecules of carbon and hydrogen).  
        This worked out well for the new life below the surface, as the 
        moderately complex  molecules  formed above them would serve as 
        their "food."  Alas a chain of life had begun.

        The UV radiation also served another purpose, photodissociation
        would occur, and both hydrogen and oygen would be released into
        the atmosphere from the water from  which  they came.  Hydrogen
        atoms are the lightest  in the galaxy and would therefore float
        off into space;   And the more oxygen that was produced through
        photodissociation, the faster the hydrogen would rise.  Now the
        atoms of free oxygen would combine in pairs (O2) for the atmos-
        phere, and with soil to create  silicates  (oxidized minerals). 
        In combination with NH3 (ammonia)  forming  N and H20 (nitrogen
        and  water),  with  CH4 (methane)  forming  CO2 and H2O (carbon
        dioxide and water),  and with H2S  (hydrogen sulfide) molecules
        formed  S and H2O  (sulfur and water).   In  turn the water was
        photodissociated and the cycle continued.   The S combined with 
        the core singularily to produce sulfides,  and  in  conjunction
        with O2, to produce sulfates.   Finally, at a loss of moisture,  
        though not excessive,  the  atmosphere  changed from a reducing 
        (H based), to a neutral one.   At this point Venus and Mars had 
        also followed suit, Venus having a denser atmosphere, comprised
        of N and CO2,  Mars almost exclusively containining CO2 in  its
        exceedingly thin atmosphere.   The moisture levels also varied,
        as Venus contained  approximately 1/10,000  that of the earth's
        oceans,  (a substancial sum),  but Mars having barely enough to
        affect the dry landscape.  A key factor here was the difference
        in volume of CO2 gas.   Since  CO2  is an excellent absorber of 
        infrared  radiation  it  is  required  (in large quantities) to 
        produce an appreciable  "greenhouse effect,"  ie. using the sun 
        to heat up the  planet's  surface.  Venus had enough of the CO2
        to produce  this  effect, however Mars did not,  thus its great
        difference in temperature.  Venus not only had enough CO2,  but
        too much of it.  The  temperature  of the planet and atmosphere
        rose to such a height as  to  evaporate its oceans and form the
        clouds which now cover the planet.   Any  living organisms that
        may have developed would have been killed as the planet's temp-
        erature increased beyond their tolerance.
        
        On Earth, the O2 released into the atmosphere had two purposes,
        one, to oxygenate the atmosphere, and two,  to form O3 (ozone).
        The O3 layer lay in the upper  atmosphere and absorbed UV light 
        thus  protecting  the  living  organisms  freshly formed in the 
        Earth's oceans.   Earth had such abundant oceans at this point, 
        that it could afford  to  lose  half  of the volume in order to 
        create  a  boutiful  atmosphere,  at  the moment a neutral one. 
        Although  the  similarities  between  the creation of Earth and 
        Venus were close indeed,  Earth  did not fall to the same fate. 
        In order to prevent the same end Venus experienced, Earth would
        develope chlorophyll.   This occured when UV light built a ring
        of atoms made up of simple molecules.  A particular combination 
        of atoms attaching to the  ring  yeilded chlorophyll.  This new
        molecule had the property of absorbing visible light,  and  the 
        ease of incorporating into other cells.  These early cells were
        now capable of producing  complex  food  molecules by utilizing
        the energy from visible light stored in chlorophyll.   Now  the
        cells could feed  without  waiting  for the molecules formed by 
        the photodissociation.  This  process is called photosynthesis,
        and during this process,  the energy of visible light separates
        H2O molecules into  H and O2.   Without  the  chlorophyll  this 
        would not occur. This method of breaking down the H2O molecules
        is far more effective than the UV light photodissociation, with
        the added benefit of allowing  cells  to  multiply more rapidly 
        than was previously possible.   In  time  photosynthesis became 
        the prevailing mode of life,  the O2 was steadily increasing in
        the atmosphere,  and the face of the Earth began to turn green.
        As the O2 increased,  larger  quantities  of O3 gathered in the 
        outer atmosphere to block out the UV light.   Since  the  cells
        used visible light for photosynthesis,  and  H2O molecules were
        broken down into H and O2 by the process,  the  UV light photo-
        dissociation process was no longer required.   As visible light
        passed through the O3 layer easily, life multiplied, and O2 was
        created at a  greater  pace  converting  the neutral atmosphere 
        into a oxidizing one.  
        
        The  vast  carbon  dioxide  resource  also had to be reduced to 
        prevent the overheating experienced by Venus.   Photosynthesis, 
        while producing the O2, had the added benefit of not permitting 
        the H to escape as occurred in photodissociation, by converting 
        it into starch and other components of plant cells by combining 
        it with the overly abundant CO2.   Thus  the infrared light was  
        prevented from overheating the planet.  Many years of this pro-
        cess would yield an  atmosphere  consisting mainly of N and O2.
        When this occurred the O3 layer  was dense enough to reduce the 
        UV light reaching the surface  below sufficiently to allow life          
        forms to explore dry land, and cover the Earth. Eventually both
        plant and animal were found accross the globe.  

        In the not too distant future, prehistoric man evolved, and the
        rest is history...

        To  concluded,  this  combination  of events could easily occur 
        elsewhere,  in another galaxy,  perhaps even nearby.  It almost 
        occurred twice in our own Milky Way, (here on Earth, and almost 
        on Venus).  If perchance  Venus  had  a longer gestation period 
        in which to develope chlorophyll,  would  we  be  alone  in our 
        Galaxy?   I highly doubt it.   However  I assure you we are not 
        alone in this, our universe...

        Go now and explore,  and  leave  your  mind open to the endless
        possibilities that surround  us and are an integral part of our
        existence. The complexities of life are merely an inconvenience
        for understanding;  however,  study  with  an  open  mind,  and 
        the universe is yours...

        

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        Biliography:
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        Greenstein,  George,  "The  Symbiotic  Universe:   Life and the 
        Cosmos in Unity," Quill William Morrow, New York

        Asimov, Isaac, "Mars, The Red Planet,"  Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd
        Company, New York, Copyright 1977 - by Isaac Asimov

        Von Baeyer, Hans,  "Rainbows, Snowflakes, and Quarks:   Physics
        and the World Around Us," McGraw-Hill, New York, Copyright 1984
        Hans C. Von Baeyer
        
        Asimov, Isaac,  "Is Anyone There?"  Doubleday & Co.,  New York,
        Copyright 1967 by Isaac Asimov

        Davies Owen, "The Omni Book of Space," Omni Publications Inter-
        national, Ltd., Copyright 1979-1982 - Various Authors

        Sagan, Carl, "Cosmos,"  Ballantine Books - a division of Random
        House, Inc., New York, Copyright 1980 by Carl Sagan Productions
        Inc.
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        General:
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        Those wishing further information may leave me, ~11Boris Karloff~03,
        mail at ~11Frynge BBS (604) 763-6314~03.

        Any comments are not only welcome, but also appreciated
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        Special Thanks:
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        Special thanks to Martin Strasser for giving me the ambition to
        write again.
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