The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a facility in Los Angeles County, California that can trace its history to the early 1940s. At that time, rocket motors were a new development and the lab was an arm of the American military. A little known fact about the early years of JPL gives insight into both computing power and gender roles in America during that era.
In “the 1940s and 1950s, JPL used the word ‘computer’ to refer to a person rather than a machine.”2 Although the agency was developed exclusively by men, and all of the leadership consisted of men, it was an “all-female computer team . . . that [was] responsible for doing all the math by hand required to plot satellite trajectories and other scientific calculations.”3 Many of these women had been recruited right out of high school.4 Slide-rules, pencils, and paper were the tools of this team as digital computers were only in developmental stages at that time.5 A group similar to the one pictured here was the team who made it possible for Explorer 1 to be the first satellite launched by the United States when it was sent into space on January 31, 1958.6
Today, NASA and the JPL uses even larger teams of people to analyze data. At the website http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov/, more than 54,000 men and women have signed up to use their personal computers to analyze data sent to earth by the Mars Rover.7
1 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/computers.html; Page Last Updated: January 3, 2008; Page Editor: Susan Watanabe; NASA Official: Brian Dunbar
2 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/computers.html
3 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/computers.html
4 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/computers.html
5 http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?category=cmptr
6 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/explorer-overview.html
7 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2010-366
How does one describe the shape of an ever-expanding universe? It is not easy to imagine what it might look like. Neither was it easy for some to imagine a spherical earth. For many centuries, the best model for the shape of the earth was a flat disk. This model held sway for at least five centuries in the Common Era (CE); and, even then, a spherical model was only adopted in certain Greek philosophical circles. Imagine for a moment how difficult it would have been to conceptualize that if you traveled west long enough you would arrive back at your point of departure. Returning to the shape of the universe, apply such imagination to its shape. What if someone told you that if you kept going in one direction in the expanse of the universe, you would one day come back to your point of origin? Would that be similarly hard to comprehend? That is precisely what would happen in the current best model for the shape of the universe. The model is represented by a toroid. It is sometimes described as a donut shape but a donut shape is only the simplest of the toroidal shapes. The shapes pictured in this blog also define toroids.
The best calculations by mathematical physicists tell us that the universe is close to completely flat and could fit on the surface of such a toroid. This is a shape that is definitely hard to conceptualize for very long. I think it must have been brief glimpses into the mysteries of the universe such as this that led Albert Camus to say, “Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time.” We can only hold such images in our minds for the briefest of moments before they escape us or drive us mad. Those who lived in a “flat disk world-view” must have felt the same. How could one hold onto this concept for more than a few seconds? It was outside of the experience of all people until a few brought back reports of strange journeys and new understandings of geography and geometry. Now, although we take it for granted that it can be done, few have circumnavigated the globe to prove the theory. I can only dream of what the experience might be like and only astronauts have a true, immediate, experience of circumnavigation. But, in my mind, momentarily, I can capture the mystery.
Works cited:
Nature; Published online 23 May 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.854; “Doughnut-Shaped Universe bites back: Astronomers say Universe is small and finite.”
Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, I pray that you might be always drawing closer to God. As I went for a run this morning a prayer written by Steve Taylor came to mind and I prayed as I ran.
In all of the activity of life: teaching, mentoring, preaching, planning, and writing, “I just want to know am I pulling people closer; I just want to be pulling them to You. I just want to stay angry at the evil. I just want to be hungry for the true. . . . Oh, search me Father and know my heart, try me and know my mind. And if there be any wicked way in me, pull me to the rock that is higher than than I.” May you always be drawing closer to God.
I Just Want To Know
(Words and Music by Steve Taylor) (Listen as you read the lyrics.)
Life’s too short for small talk
So don’t be talking trivia now
Excess baggage fills this plane
There’s more than we should ever allow
There’s engines stalling and good men falling
But I ain’t crawling awayI just wanna know
Am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to you
I just wanna stay angry at the evil
I just wanna be hungry for the trueFolks play follow the leader
But who’s the leader gonna obey?
Will his head get big when the toes get tapping?
I just wanna know are they catching what I say?
I’m a little too young to introspect
And I surely haven’t paid all my dues
But there’s bear traps lying in those woods
Most of them already been usedI just wanna know
Am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to you
I just wanna stay angry at the evil
I just wanna be hungry for the trueSearch me, Father, and know my heart
Try me and know my mind
And if there be any wicked way in me
Pull me to the rock that is higher than II just wanna know
Am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to you
I just wanna stay angry at the evil
I just wanna be hungry for the true
For three nights only, our solar system put on a great show. For those who were under clear skies and looked west, they could catch a glimpse of both Venus and Mars. Just after sunset, from February 19 through 21, both planets could be clearly seen above the horizon. If you looked at the right time you could also see a waxing crescent moon close by. This conjunction of planets reminds us of our perspective in the solar system.
Our planet is relatively close to these other planets moving around our sun. Mars, is a mere 225,300,000 km from earth (on average) while Venus (on average – although it varies between 38 million and 261 million km) is 41,900,000 km from earth. But it is the unique orbits of all three planets that create this apparent conjunction. From our perspective, we are looking at Venus and Mars as their orbits swing them around until they are very nearly aligned with each other. It makes for a great show: Venus, the bright, white light, Mars, the dim red light, and a sliver of moonlight to give us perspective. Many people captured this phenomenon on cell-phone cameras and other more sophisticated lenses. Here are two images from social media.
Photo Credit: Daniel Smith, Three Hills, Alberta.
Photo Credit: Arvind Paranjpye @a_paranjpye
“Venus and Mars are alright tonight.” – Paul and Linda McCartney
The band Jars of Clay sings about a “Reckless Forgiver” (listen to the song here) on their album Inland. I leave it to your imagination as to who it is that truly forgives recklessly. I may not be fully capable of reckless forgiveness but I certainly could be more generous with my forgiveness.
Reckless Forgiver
(Composed and performed by “Jars of Clay;” 2013)
Writers: Charles Daniel Lowell, Daniel Paul Haseltine, Matthew Thomas Odmark, Stephen Daniel Mason; Copyright: Middle Space Publishing (BMI), Grow Your Own Music O.B.O. Middle Space Publishing.Loneliness, loneliness, it won’t last forever
Happiness, happiness, wait in lineEvery time I look in the mirror
I’m in the shadow of doubt
Maybe I’m as lost as the next guy
Who just has to find, just have to find outAll I want is peace like a river
Long life of sanity, love that won’t leave too soon
Someone to pull out the splinters
A reckless forgiver
You know I’m talking to youI made a mess, made a mess
Of the heart I borrowed
So get undressed, get undressed
Laugh tomorrowEvery time I look in the mirror
I’m in the shadow of doubt
Maybe I’m as lost as the next guy
Just have to findAll I want is peace like a river
Long life of sanity, love that won’t leave too soon
Someone to pull out the splinters
A reckless forgiver
You know I’m talking to you
I leave it all for youAll I want is peace like a river
Long life of sanity, love that won’t leave too soon
Someone to pull out the splinters
A reckless forgiver
You know I’m talking to youI want peace like a river
Long life of sanity, love that won’t leave too soon
Someone to pull out the splinters
A reckless forgiver
You know I’m talking to youI leave it all for you
You know I’m talking to youI leave it all for you
All for you
Yeah, Yeah
I leave it all for you
“Keeping a journal has taught me that there is
not so much new in your life as you sometimes think. When you re-read your
journal you find out that your latest discovery is something you already found
out five years ago. Still, it is true that one penetrates deeper and deeper
into the same ideas and the same experiences.”
― Thomas Merton, The
Sign of Jonas
Today, I want to ask the question, “Why are we here?” That is, why does the universe exist; and why do we humans exist in this universe? As a response, I will list a few interesting quotes from others who have pondered this question. The reader can meditate upon these responses and consider the path of inquiry which will then be most satisfying.
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), a Christian philosopher, did not believe that science could answer this question in a satisfactory manner. He wrote,
Question: “Why do I live?” Answer: “In infinite space, in infinite time, infinitely small particles change their forms in infinite complexity, and when you have understood the laws of those mutations of form you will understand why you live on the earth. . . . You are an accidentally united little lump of something. That little lump ferments. The little lump calls that fermenting its ‘life’. The lump will disintegrate and there will be an end of the fermenting and of all the questions.” So answers the clear side of science and cannot answer otherwise if it strictly follows its principles.1
On the other hand, Richard Dawkins has confidence that science can and does answer the question. He points to Charles Darwin and says,
Darwin told us why we exist and that’s not an easy question to answer. It’s not just us, it’s all living things. The living world is incredibly complex and staggeringly improbable – unless you understand where it came from; it looks as though it’s been designed; everyone thought that it was designed; but Darwin showed that it wasn’t. That’s the importance of Darwin.2
In a documentary entitled “Why Are We Here?” Dawkins goes on to say that the universe has “no purposeful design” and that humans “provide the purpose.”3 Essentially, what he is saying is that the purpose of the universe is what we humans decide. We give the universe the only purpose it could possibly have.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE) said that we were made “to look upon one who looks back in love.” The Westminster Catechism asks the question, “What is the chief end of Man?” or What is the main purpose of humans? The answer provided is: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.”4
At this point in history we find two premises alive in the world. One is that the universe spontaneously came into being. The other is that a Creator caused the universe to come into being. It seems to me that all of our understanding, values, and philosophy are then derived from one premise or the other. As we meditate upon these two premises, we must consider well our own understanding and the implications for how we will live our lives.
1 Tolstoy, Leo. A Confession, The Gospel in Brief and What I Believe (trans. by Aylmer Maude). London: Oxford University Press, 1958; pp 27-31.
2 National Geographic Interview with Richard Dawkins, “Professor Richard Dawkins on Darwin”; http://natgeotv.com/uk/dawkins-darwin-evolution/dawkins-interview-darwin
3 “Why Are We Here?”; Richard Dawkins; Discovery Science Documentary; http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-are-we-here/
4 http://www.creeds.net/reformed/Westminster/shorter_catechism.html
Upon this day, my heart is full
The fam’ly tree that once was two,
Now has branches fully pulled,
And bowed and stretched and turned askew
The stems are laden with the fruit
And fill the soul with rev’rent bliss
The outflow of two hearts that grew
As sealed upon the lips that kiss
A little girl has come today
To add more joy and fill the way
With toys and strings for all to play
Oh Katie love, we bless this day
Oh maid’n love and knightly power,
We turn our hearts in holy praise,
To give the scent of sweetest flower,
And hands that stretch and fully raise.
Oh mystery of all complete,
We wonder at these gifts we take
Fully blessed with life replete,
On this your day, our precious Kate.
A little girl has come today
To add more joy and fill the way
With toys and strings for all to play
Oh Katie love, we bless this day
Love, Love, Love
Love is in this home
Love, Love, Love
Love is in this home
A little girl has come today
To add more joy and fill the way
With toys and strings for all to play
Oh Katie love, we bless this day
Welcome Kate Evelyn Mitchell.
As a curious person, I often ask the question, “What is that made of?” Today’s blog will take us on a journey as we ask this question about plastic. One of the simplest forms of plastic is polyethylene. The chemical formula for this molecule is (C2H4)nH2. The type of polyethylene varies with the value of n.
(You can click on any of these images for another view.)
So, this plastic is made up of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms. Carbon atoms are made of six neutrons, 6 protons, and 6 electrons while hydrogen atoms are made of one proton and one electron.
Neutrons are made of two “up” quarks and one “down” quark while protons are made of one “up” quark and two “down” quarks. Electrons are made of . . . well . . . electrons. At this point, we believe electrons to be indivisible quantum particles, just like “up,” “down,” and other types of quarks. On the other hand, another theory is that all of these elementary particles would be better modeled as vibrating strings. But we will save the discussion of that theory for another day.
Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Cern are discovering that quarks can interact and form intermediary groupings of two, three, and four quarks. Recently a particular particle containing four quarks was discovered by analyzing the products of multiple collisions in the LHC. So, the next time someone asks you the component parts of something, ask them how far down they would like to go. This universe continues to inspire awe in the one who created it.
However, the song on Medicine which caught my attention the most, caught it for all the wrong reasons. “Sisters Brothers” seems to me to be simply a mellow reworking of Serena Rider’s song “Stompa.” Take a listen to the two here (starts at approximately 20:35) and here. The similarity probably falls short of copyright infringement, but “Sisters Brothers” is similar enough to make one think that Drew has been listening to Serena.
If there is any redemption in all of this, it is that Drew Holcomb has improved on the meaning of Serena Rider’s song. There is truth in the bridge Holcomb has written.
Life’s not a joke
Not a cloud of smoke
It’s not to be mocked
It’s a tickin clock
Countin down the days
Livin on borrowed time
Below are the rest of the lyrics to “Sisters Brothers.”
Sisters Brothers
(Words and music by Drew Holcomb)
It happened to me on the balcony
I heard someone singing in the key of C
Goodbyes and love and freedom and tragedy
It got me singing like a carousel
I had to take a vacation to the wishing well
To pound all the drums and ring all the bells
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to stand up for each other
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to fight for one another
Now promises made and debts were paid
We tell ourselves we are not afraid
Fear only goes where its invited to stay
An eclectic electric hopeless romantic
Telling tall-tales to keep your interest
Trying to understand the lonely heart of man
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to stand up for each other
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to fight for one another
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh yeah
Life’s not a joke
Not a cloud of smoke
It’s not to be mocked
It’s a tickin clock
Countin down the days
Livin on borrowed time
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to stand up for each other
Sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers
We’ve got to fight for one another
By Drew Holcomb. © Hancy
Music, 2014. BMI. Music Admin.