Stardust … to which we shall return
This is an animated story about Voyager 1, the farthest man-made object from Earth, and currently making its way out of our solar system. We (and it) were born of cosmic dust and gas that condensed to form our planet and its neighbors about 4.6 billion years ago. When our Sun swells to a red giant, we shall return to dust again. Perhaps we will be reborn as a comet, or rogue asteroid, or nothing at all.
This is what will become of Earth. But do not despair, because our atoms will live on, as will the body of our creation, Voyager 1, and likely many others. Were it not long dead by that time, its power source spent, it could look back upon the remnants of the Pale Blue Dot it most famously captured and witness our return to dust. No matter our fate, it carries upon it our image and our message forever, on a plate of gold, a letter to the stars that will never be dust.
I just can’t attach enough adjectives to this video from PostPanic Studios. That solar animation! Wow! It’s beautiful, stunning, amazing and wonderful. Watch it in full screen and do enjoy :)
The Immortal Jellyfish
While the humans have been looking for the elixir of life throughout every period of history, it appears that there is one species of jellyfish that are actually immortal. Turritopsis nutricula is able to transform its cells from mature state back to immaturity, in other words – back to youth. The medusa leads a regular cycle of life, but after maturing and mating, it reverts back to its initial state – a polyp colony.
The process is referred to as “transdifferentiation”, and it basically makes the jellyfish unable to die. The bell-shaped immortal jellyfish measures up to a maximum of about 4.5 millimeters (0.18 in) and is about the same in its length and width. Originating in the Caribbean, it has now spread worldwide, and the discovery of its unique ability has heated up many discussions among the scientists. Some claim that their mystery is soon to be solved and applied to humans, while others only expect it to improve the quality of life at our final stages.
(Source: Wikipedia and NY Times)
(Image source: Takashi Murai)
