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So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact
is stranger than fiction...
Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting,
quirky and downright bizarre tid bits from the world of science. And its
all completely, totally, 100% true!
April Sci-Facts
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| Randomness
(Or, I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.) |
There were fluctuations in the chaos of our infant universe. In
any liquid or gas, Brownian Motion occurs; this is why milk will
eventually disperse through your tea even if you don't stir your
cuppa. This motion causes random fluctuations, and without these
events the galaxy would never have formed, as matter would have
been even distributed throughout the universe.
All the ionised matter cooled, the protons, electron and neutrons
started to form atoms. Nearly one hundred per cent of these atoms
were hydrogen and helium, and none of the heavier elements, like oxygen,
iron & carbon, were formed. This is not a universe where 'complex'
molecules exist; there is no water, no salts, and no metals.
Of course, there could be no life as we know it.
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| Gravity Works! (The Universe
learns about the lightness of being.) |
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So, we have ended up with 'clumps' of matter, mainly hydrogen and
helium, swirling and twisting in space. Gravity acts on these individual
clumps, causing them to condense. As the matter condenses, it begins
to pivot around its centre. Have you ever watched how an ice-skater
achieves a fast spin? As they rotate, they draw their limbs in close
and conservation of energy mean the kinetic energy has to go somewhere.
The same thing happens to the condensing matter…it begins to
pick up speed, and rotation increases. Spheres and discs are the
natural products of the conglomerating, spinning matter.
When enough matter collects in one place, heat and pressure ignites
it. And new suns light our infant universe…wouldn't that have
been a sight to see, the brightness of the first sunrise.
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| Heavy Metal (Or, the Universe
learns how to Rock!) |
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The first suns were the furnaces that baked heavy elements out of
hydrogen and helium. Only the tiniest proportion of the matter was
converted, in the intense heat and pressure of these solar ovens,
but enough converted to make the some of the suns' unstable.
Even now, we know about suns going nova. Most of the matter in
these solar explosions is flung off into space, leaving behind little
cinders - usually neutron stars. This cycle of matter condensing
and exploding has been repeated at least twice in the history of
our Universe.
Even if only one percent of one percent of all the original matter
were converted into new elements, enough rock and other stuff would
exist to create the planets and asteroids. Today, the majority of
matter in our own solar system is still contained within our sun;
the mass of all the planets added to the sun wouldn't make much
of a difference.
So, every atom and molecule in your body once existed within a
sun; it had to, or you wouldn't be able to exist. You know, you
hear about people that spontaneously combust…maybe the atoms
remember their previous incarnation, and up they go! (Just my little
joke.) Our Earth and everything on it are part of a third generation
cycle, with each cycle increasing the complexity of elements. One
can't help but wonder what the next generation will be like.
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*The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green
So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science?
Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from
the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working
in a Pathology laboratory.
I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe,
from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending
forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am
sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia…and hopefully entertaining
people at the same time.
As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have
a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major
love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though
I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time
to write!
Read previous Sci-Facts:
The Big Bang
Ashes to
ashes; Dust to dust
Twists in
the tale
Robots in
the Swim and other things
The Tachyon
and other things
Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr
Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds!
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