Posted on 09/27/2005 9:35:59 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
You are not alone.
Emerson mentioned that natural things, events, have meaning when we can relate them to ourselves. That is how we can distinguish primary writers and thinkers from secondary--primary orators use fundamental nature in their allusions, secondary orators use primary orators. There are a thousand secondary for each primary. The writings and thoughts of secondaries disappear quickly; the ideas of primaries stick around. Emerson himself was a primary, which he knew, but like a good primary he explained his method and so made it possible for many who would otherwise be secondaries to aspire to primaryhood.
The core of every atom on earth is also composed of subatomic particles. Is that just as cool?
I was shocked to read that the core is a pseudo-liquid particle mix. I would have thought that the collapse of the electron clouds would lead to an incredibly dense solid. I suppose it does make sense, in a way, that the lack of structured atoms would mean that nothing solid would form.
That would be my understanding as well!
Now plot the time-temperature-spatial relationship for each.
Sun's been going a lot longer than one of our nukes.
Could be, but not necessarily.
Could this thing turn black hole?
It could, but this is unlikely. If it didn't turn into a black hole when it first formed in a collapse (even notwithstanding all the inward momentum of the collapse) then it isn't likely to do so now, unless a lot of matter were dumped into it.
Would such an event fundamentally alter the structure of our galaxy, or would it simply be drawn in to the center?
The latter. Star-massed black holes royally screw up space for a few km around them. Maybe even 1000s of km. But that's just peanuts compared to space.
It's the pattern of events piling up one after another in rapid succession.
"I was shocked to read that the core is a pseudo-liquid particle mix. I would have thought that the collapse of the electron clouds would lead to an incredibly dense solid."
Interesting, isn't it? I suspect that there's a lot more to learn about such environments. We haven't been able to observe them, so it's all been just theoretical.
As we are able to observe more and more, some theories may have to change.
I confess to not being able to keep up totally with these fields. I read about them in the semi-professional journals, like Nature, rather than in the popular press, but I find myself at a loss when I attempt to read professional journals in these disciplines.
At age 60, I have finally given into the realization that I will not understand everything completely. Or, perhaps, anything. Still, the curiosity keeps me trying.
"It's the pattern of events piling up one after another in rapid succession."
Oh, I see. So having some event happen on a star, close to the time of a couple of hurricanes, while a couple of countries are at war, as an earthquake hits Peru, has never happened before?
That's just silly. Stellar events happen a number of times a year. You can't see them, just as you can't see the one mentioned in this post. There are several large hurricanes at this time of year...every year. Sometimes they hit cities; sometimes they don't. There is ALWAYS some war, somewhere, and there are a number of large earthquaks on this planet every year.
Nothing unusual is going on right now. It's just that it's happening right now, and is there for you to think about, in the news, and current. You just don't remember the last time there were a bunch of things happening in the past. Why? Because you're living today.
I'll bet you can't remember the last supernova reported by astronomers, or the name of all of the hurricanes from last year, or which countries were fighting the year of the last big San Francisco earthquake, even if you can remember what year that was.
There is no unusual pattern of events going on. None, whatsoever.
If you don't believe me, go to your local library and pick any year you wish. Then, take a major city newspaper and read every day's issue, covering a period of four or five months. Read the science pages, the news, the business section...all of it. You'll see what I mean.
It just seems like there is a pattern of events this year, because you're in the middle of this year. You're reading the news, watching television, reading FR, etc., so you're aware of all this stuff.
It all happened many other times.
Yes, that was my point...
IIRC, iron is several steps down the line from hydrogen fusion; IIRC (very hazy memory) the "Red Giant" phase is associated with fusion of helium to form carbon?
Mother Nature will win, but we can voice our displeasure once or twice.
Or more, on Free Republic!
It appears to me that if one wishes to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. --Niels Abel
From the (New Testament) Bible...
"Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the SIGN of thy coming, and of the END OF THE WORLD?"
Matthew 24
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat024.html#top
Luke 21
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Luk/Luk021.html#top
Yep.
Actually, I am being well educated reading the posts from members who obviously have good knowledge on the subject. It's impressive and fascinating reading. Yes, my memory goes a ways back, and yes, I remember the last San Francisco earthquake - and several before that. I remember the many hurricanes each summer as well as the fact that many are devastating. And yes, I remember most of the conflicts and economic crises around the world for at least 50 years. Everything that you say is objectively true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.