The beginning of life almost recreated in lab
Posted by Peter Owen | Filed under science
Some chemical reactions occurred about 4 billion years ago — perhaps in a primordial tidal soup or maybe with help of volcanoes or possibly at the bottom of the sea or between the mica sheets — to create biology.
Now scientists have created something in the lab that is tantalizingly close to what might have happened. It’s not life, they stress, but it certainly gives the science community a whole new data set to chew on.
The researchers, at the Scripps Research Institute, created molecules that self-replicate and even evolve and compete to win or lose. If that sounds exactly like life, read on to learn the controversial and thin distinction.
I have had this theory that we, as humans, exist only to preserve our DNA. In other words there’s a larger purpose for our lives, perpetuating our DNA. I find this slightly scary and slightly relaxing at the same time. This article seems to partially reflect this.
via Life As We Know It Nearly Created in Lab | LiveScience.
Tags: biology, lab, Life, science
New Job
Posted by Peter Owen | Filed under Uncategorized
So I got a new job and started this week. I’ve never been so oddly calm about not having a job.. well.. ever. This is the first time I’ve not had a job since I was 16. Two months without one wasn’t bad at all though. I got to know my son, Elek, better. I learned how to bake bread. I learned a lot more about cooking. I read more. I learned about unemployment, when and how to register. I learned about using your contacts to find a job. Learned a little about how it would feel if I couldn’t get a job at all (desperation). I learned how to relax a little. I learned how valuable one’s time is. I fixed up my old Brio train for Elek. I was fortunate enough to switch places with my lovely wife to understand what she went through when I was at work and she wasn’t. She also learned what it felt like to be me. Because I was able to relax while doing everything possible to get a job, I definitely was happy during this time off. It could have been the opposite. I’m very thankful for any and all help I got during this time. While I know the economy has not hit bottom yet, I’m ever optimistic about where it will take us. I’m just here for the ride.
Tags: Economy, Employment, Job, Life
