Either we're particularly fortunate, or this solar system was created as a biological laboratory. So many of the details seem tailored for life. First of all, we have a series of huge, gas giants orbiting in the farther reaches of our star system, acting as immense vacuum cleaners sucking in errant rocks and debris...Remember Comet Shoemaker-Levy? If not for Jupiter, it probably would have ventured deeper into our vicinity and fallen into Earth's gravity well. Such an outcome would have destroyed our biosphere, if not the entire planet and even the cockroaches would be pushing up daisies. But only symbolically, for flowers too would have all gone bye-bye.
Second, we have a large moon. The pull of that body keeps our axis on a more or less even keel. Many astronomers feel without the moon, our angle of inclination would probably be greater causing inimaginable seasonal differences. Summers would be like Equtorial Africa. Winters as cold as Greenland. Evolution as we know it, would not have happened, since most hominid development took place on grasslands and such environments require equitable conditions. Indeed, the appearance of most higher life forms would have been precluded. So unless you wanted to be a worm or perhaps a cephalopod, give thanks to Luna.
Third, out planet has a magnetic, iron core. That means we're protected by an expensive, magnetic field. This shields us from various forms of cosmic radiation. Worlds lacking magnetic fields tend to exhibit sterile surfaces, witness Mars, or the moon. Tiny creppy-crawlies may burrow underground, but nobody tunnels up to catch a few rays------ a veritable death sentence.
Fourth, we're blessed with an adequate supply of fresh water (at least for the time being). Without such a universal solvent, the complex chemical reactions necessary for life may never have taken place. Most of the ingredients would have been there, but you know how recipes are. That 'just add water' part would have possed quite a problem.
And it's believed we got all that water courtesy of all the comets (glaciers hurtling through space) nice enough to smash into us during our infancy.
Let's not forget our 'calm' parent star. Without such a level-headed progenitor, all of this would be moot. And the way things stand now, we have at least another billion years before the Biggest Salesman for Ban de Soliel goes crazy and sautes all our butts........Hopefully, technology will be such that we'll have a really nice 'step' star by then, maybe thousands of them.
So could all of this have happened by chance, or are we just a bunch of Madagasscar Hissing Cock-Roaches wallowing around in the muck at the bottom of some terrarium? Granted, a nice terrarium. I mean they even supplied us with relatively easy to reach 'first step' worlds, like Mars and maybe even Europa too. It's like they want us to learn how to 'walk' and take our first steps toward the stars..
Are some of the other lights in the sky terrariums to? Would nurseries be a better word? Gee, who do you suppose will climb out of their crib first?
Space isn't the final frontier. It's just the bigger world beyond the car-seat. Now if we could only figure out a way to release this freakin' buckle........
Second, we have a large moon. The pull of that body keeps our axis on a more or less even keel. Many astronomers feel without the moon, our angle of inclination would probably be greater causing inimaginable seasonal differences. Summers would be like Equtorial Africa. Winters as cold as Greenland. Evolution as we know it, would not have happened, since most hominid development took place on grasslands and such environments require equitable conditions. Indeed, the appearance of most higher life forms would have been precluded. So unless you wanted to be a worm or perhaps a cephalopod, give thanks to Luna.
Third, out planet has a magnetic, iron core. That means we're protected by an expensive, magnetic field. This shields us from various forms of cosmic radiation. Worlds lacking magnetic fields tend to exhibit sterile surfaces, witness Mars, or the moon. Tiny creppy-crawlies may burrow underground, but nobody tunnels up to catch a few rays------ a veritable death sentence.
Fourth, we're blessed with an adequate supply of fresh water (at least for the time being). Without such a universal solvent, the complex chemical reactions necessary for life may never have taken place. Most of the ingredients would have been there, but you know how recipes are. That 'just add water' part would have possed quite a problem.
And it's believed we got all that water courtesy of all the comets (glaciers hurtling through space) nice enough to smash into us during our infancy.
Let's not forget our 'calm' parent star. Without such a level-headed progenitor, all of this would be moot. And the way things stand now, we have at least another billion years before the Biggest Salesman for Ban de Soliel goes crazy and sautes all our butts........Hopefully, technology will be such that we'll have a really nice 'step' star by then, maybe thousands of them.
So could all of this have happened by chance, or are we just a bunch of Madagasscar Hissing Cock-Roaches wallowing around in the muck at the bottom of some terrarium? Granted, a nice terrarium. I mean they even supplied us with relatively easy to reach 'first step' worlds, like Mars and maybe even Europa too. It's like they want us to learn how to 'walk' and take our first steps toward the stars..
Are some of the other lights in the sky terrariums to? Would nurseries be a better word? Gee, who do you suppose will climb out of their crib first?
Space isn't the final frontier. It's just the bigger world beyond the car-seat. Now if we could only figure out a way to release this freakin' buckle........
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