Possible Causes of Destruction from Space That Could Lead to an Apocalypse - Essay Example

Possible Causes of Destruction from Space that could Lead to an Apocalypse of the Biology Name of the Concerned Professor October 19, 2011 Possible Causes of Destruction from Space that could Lead to an Apocalypse Introduction Since times immemorial, the humanity has been overwhelmingly obsessed with the possibility of annihilation of the world in which it resides. Before the dawn of the age of science, such fears and apprehensions have been limited to the scope of traditional beliefs and religion. From the rock paintings in the prehistoric caves to the words printed in the Bible, one does comes across possibilities and explanations that discernibly point towards the destruction of this world. The rise of scientific temperament rather than dispelling further consolidated these fears by extending new knowledge and information about space and the associated phenomenon. In that context, the longevity of earth is to a great extent a matter of coincidence and the spatial phenomenon like solar storms, and collision with asteroids or comets do have the potential to give way to an apocalypse. Solar Storms Before delving on the possible apocalyptic consequences of solar storms, one needs to delve into the scientific basis of these solar phenomenons. Simply speaking, a solar storm may refer to solar flare, Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a geomagnetic storm. The solar flares mostly get noticed as an abrupt brightening on the surface of the sun (Shipman, 1987, p. 266). This brightening of the solar surface is often interpreted as a massive release of energy of gargantuan proportions (Shipman, 1987, p. 266). The solar flares result into large scale ejections of atoms, ions and electrons from the sun’s corona into the space (Shipman, 1987, p. 266). These ejections of atomic and subatomic particles resulting from a solar flare do manage to reach the earth’s atmosphere. It is a possibility that the solar flares accompanied by a large scale energy release do have the potential to disrupt and even destroy the life on earth. It is a known fact that the sun’s energy does influence electromagnetic fields and the weather on earth. An unprecedented solar activity could someday drastically impact the human survival. They have the potential to drastically jeopardize the modern life by causing natural disasters, earthquakes, Tsunamis, disrupting communication technologies, giving way to genetic mutations, jamming radio and satellite signals, and a plethora of other scientifically valid possibilities. It is a possibility that the very life nurturing potential of the sun could someday lead to an apocalypse. Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), simply put is a large scale burst of magnetic fields, solar wind and plasma from the sun’s corona into space (Ridpath, 1997, p. 102). CMEs do have the ability to disrupt the life on earth. In case, per chance, a CME is directed towards the earth, it could give way to shock wave of solar particles impacting the earthly life (Ridpath, 1997, p. 102). It is a known fact that there exists a direct correlation between the solar activities and the geological and biological life on earth. In case the sun turns into a cycle marked by massive solar eruptions and flares, shooting high energy particles into the earth’s atmosphere, it could give way to unprecedented and unheard of apocalyptic possibilities. The consequences may be as innocuous as the disruption of electric grids and communications networks, bringing to knees the contemporary technology driven civilizations, or as threatening as the disruption of earth’s atmosphere resulting in large scale natural disasters, genetic mutations culminating in morbid diseases and food shortages giving way to wars, riots and large scale genocides. While delving on the physical, magnetic, atmospheric and climatic consequences of solar activity, one simply could not ignore its ramifications for the social, political and economic life on earth. It is a known fact that a great many wars are being fought for amassing scarce natural and mineral resources like arable and fertile land, water and ores. In a world armed with nuclear weapons, in future, a global nuclear war could logically be traced to an exceptional solar activity and its impact on earth. A more than normal solar flare could result in the raining of above normal intensities of X-rays and Ultra Violet rays on the suns surface, resulting in mutations and climatic disruptions capable of unleashing a natural and geopolitical cycle resulting in the annihilation of life on earth. Impact from an Asteroid or Comet Impact with a planetary body like and asteroid or a comet is one other relevant and viable way the world may end. Asteroids are minor members of the solar system that revolve in an orbit around the sun (Barnes-Svarney, 1996, p. 4). The larger asteroids are often called planetoids (Barnes-Svarney, 1996, p. 4). There are millions of asteroids in the outer space. Most of these asteroids exist in the spatial belt lying between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars (Barnes-Svarney, 1996, p. 4). There are many asteroids that are close to the planet earth. Comets are heavenly bodies primarily made of frozen gases and nonvolatile grains, which are small and irregular in size and shape (Lewis, 1997, p. 39). Comets have an elliptical orbit, while travelling on which they sometimes come close to the sun, while other times swing into the outer space, sometimes beyond the orbit of Pluto. On the probability scale, it is really possible that one day the earth may collide with a comet or an asteroid travelling on a collision course with the planet earth (Lewis, 1997, p. 30). These possible impacts with asteroids and comets pose a serious threat to the existing life on earth. Collision with a comet or an asteroid could project large volumes of cosmic dust into the stratosphere, thereby leading to phenomenon like temperature fall and failure or disruption of crop cycles and severe alterations in the climate. The consequence of the impact with a very large asteroid could result in an explosion, much worse than a nuclear detonation. Conclusion There is no denying the fact that the extinction of the life on earth owing to destruction from space, though an exception, is a scientifically logical and valid possibility. Actually, with the augmentation of the knowledge pertaining to outer space, this possibility seems more real and tangible with each passing day. Perhaps it is something that may have actually happened millions of years ago, and may happen again. In that context, the augmentation of knowledge and dedicated probes into the outer space are one viable way to come out with the ways and the means to avoid apocalypses of cosmic origins. References Barnes-Svarney, Patricia. (1996). Asteroid: Erath Destroyer or New Frontier. New York: Plenum Press. Lewis, John S. (1997). Rain of Iron and Ice: The Very Real Threat of Comet and Asteroid Bombardment. Reading: Addison Wesley. Ridpath, Ian. (1997). A Dictionary of Astronomy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Shipman, Harry L. (1987). Space 2000: Meeting the Challenge of New Era. New York: Plenum Press. Read More