The Universe - an ongoing thread whose topics apply to all of us

[Zircon]

First, let me say this ... there are so many intellectually lazy people in this forum that I don't expect much traffic. I see the threads that are most often posted into and can only laugh. Having said that, I am glad to see some of you who are quite intellectual and can carry on a great discussion and post often - in spite of the general mindset in this forum. I realize I've pissed a lot of people off in the past so I will focus more on science - specifically astrophysics and speculations about our future as a species, genetic engineering and becoming an interstellar species.

But for starters I thought it might be interesting to bring to people's attention two important findings concerning the stars associated with the constellation of Orion.



http://www.universetoday.com/99580/detailed-view-of-betelgeuse-on-a-collision-course-with-a-nearby-wall-of-dust/betelgeuse-6/



http://www.universetoday.com/99357/the-orion-nebula-as-youve-never-seen-it-before-jaw-dropping-new-image-from-gemini/#ixzz2JC9X3Tws

[Zircon]

Guess what the half life of this element is?



It is Lutetium and its half life is 38 BILLION years. The 66th most abundant element on earth and 80th most abundant in the universe. So when you combine this fact with other elements such as Iron (4th and 9th), Tungsten (26th and 72nd), Vanadium (16th and 27th), Cerium (28th and 51st), Uranium (54th and 82nd) found on earth you can see our solar system was born as a result of a very massive supernova/hypernova explosion billions of years ago.

[MV/Liberace!]

First, let me say this ... there are so many intellectually lazy people in this forum that I don't expect much traffic. I see the threads that are most often posted into and can only laugh. Having said that, I am glad to see some of you who are quite intellectual and can carry on a great discussion and post often - in spite of the general mindset in this forum.

generally speaking, when i see someone start a thread with this level of condescension, i say to myself, "fuck this guy," and i move on.


just sayin'.


perhaps nobody posts in your threads because they've concluded you're bat-shit crazy since you flip out if 18 minutes pass with no replies.  i suspect it has NOTHING to do with any intellectual superiority on your part.

[McPhallus]

I have to say, dude, you're largely the cause of much of the political in-fighting around here by starting so many politically-divisive threads.  And this one isn't much better.