Star-stuff, as intoned by Carl Sagan, perhaps.
Comets hold life chemistry clues
The idea that comets brought the chemical “seeds” for life to the early Earth is given a big boost by new research.Scientists studying the tiny grains of material recovered from Comet Wild-2 by Nasa's Stardust mission have found large, complex carbon-rich molecules.
They are of the type that could have been important precursor components of the initial reactions that gave rise to the planet's biochemistry.
The first full analysis of the Wild-2 grains is reported in Science magazine.
“Whatever it took to get life started, the more variety of molecules you had in the mix and the more they looked like the kinds of molecules that life uses now then the easier it should have been,” Dr Scott Sandford from Nasa's Ames Research Center told BBC News.
I was looking for Dr. Sagan's famous phrase on YouTube, didn't find it, but found these instead. Funny also how many comments by anti-science anti-evolutionary Christian zealots posted on every Carl Sagan video clip. Don't they have anything better to do, like spreading peace, love and so forth? Rhetorical question, of course.
(direct video link of Carl Sagan's summary of evolution)
Hypatia and the anti-science Christians
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypatia_of_Alexandria
Oh, the famous phrase? Unable to find a good link source, but here's one version of Carl Sagan's quote:
All the elements of the Earth except hydrogen and some helium have been cooked by a kind of stellar alchemy billions of years ago in stars, some of which are today inconspicuous white dwarfs on the other side of the Milky Way Galaxy. The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of Star Stuff.“
and the cliche of Dr. Sagan intoning, in his easily recognizable voice, ”Billions and BIllions.“ Just an urban legend.
I never said it. Honest. Oh, I said there are maybe 100 billion galaxies and 10 billion trillion stars. It's hard to talk about the Cosmos without using big numbers. I said 'billion' many times on the Cosmos television series, which was seen by a great many people. But I never said 'billions and billions.' For one thing, it's imprecise. How many billions are 'billions and billions'? A few billion? Twenty billion? A hundred billion? 'Billions and billions' is pretty vague... For a while, out of childish pique, I wouldn't utter the phrase, even when asked to. But I've gotten over that. So, for the record, here it goes: 'Billions and billions.'
Ah, nostalgia is a powerful drug, I really wanted to be a scientist in the 80s, and even was accepted into the Physics program of the University of Texas, but I couldn't take the rigidity of the curriculum, and changed majors after 3 semesters.
Bonus youtube fun
Atheists aren't that bad. This is NOT an argument for atheism... It's a defense of atheists.James Randi said this video was ”very cool!“
Michael Shermer said it was ”very impressive.“
Teller (of Penn & Teller) said, ”If a god existed, this video would make him wish he were dead.“
Dan Barker (author of ”Losing Faith in Faith“) said it was ”very creative and powerful“ and that it ”makes a GREAT point!“
David Mills (author of ”Atheist Universe“) said ”I am absolutely addicted to watching this fabulous video, which has almost instantly become a legend in the freethought community. Zak has created the most intellectually and emotionally powerful multimedia presentation I've ever seen endorsing the atheist position. This is a proud moment for all rational-minded people. Atheist books can have wide-reaching influence, but I strongly suspect that Zak's video will influence a much larger audience than any atheist book ever published. The first few times I watched this video, I literally had tears in my eyes by the end. The artistic talent and technical skills required to write and produce this video -- as well as its core message -- have made Zachary Kroger my newest freethought hero. I'm not surprised at the HUGE reaction Zak's video has generated.“
NOTE- It has recently been brought to my attention that the quote attributed to former President, George Bush, is in question. He allegedly made the comment when he was Vice-President and campaigning for the Presidency. The statement was heard by one journalist without other verification.
slightly long, but makes its point (the video, that is)
