Pen, and consequently the spoken words are far stronger than the sword. Often acting in tandem, they both have defeated the tyrants of the world so many times at so many places that there should now be a dearth of such people. But so long as there are necks ripe for cutting, they will continue to emerge.

I am craving for the time when our universities will be flooded with students keen for submission into courses of astronomy and allied sciences; a time when our industry will be in equal awe of the real gems of the society, willing and eager to work in such industries and convert these industries into the world-ranking units of space sciences; and our sparkling young men and women as the pioneers, like the intrepid sailors of the bygone centuries.

This write-up on astronomy, astrophysics and their history is meant to provide one such pedestal to the remarkable youth of our country. With an eye to the future, here I go!

Cenozoic: The last 65 million years of the Earth’s time. This period, although brief in geological time-scale, is actually quite long if viewed from its pearly significance. Dinosaurs, which were at their peak, nearly completely disappeared with only dry bones to emerge in the last two centuries. A catastrophe caused by either a large rogue comet/asteroid or a stray boulder from outer space probably 10-12 miles wide. Some like, crocodilians, Rhinos, some snakes, and the commodo dragon still exist. Take a good look at them for similarity.

A few million years passed with little physical activity of note. Then, mammals, of a large variety, dug in. Limitless variety of animals, birds, trees, flora and food of all kinds appeared and flourished throughout the globe. Continents broke up and began their tedious journey culminating in great continents, mountains, rivers and seas and oceans. Both humans and animals are gleefully hitching a ride on the benign planet without a care in the world, despite earthquakes, flowing lava and rapidly changing climates, ruling the roost.

The face of the Earth has undergone changes many times during the past 65 million years, without anyone realising it. We shall keep reverting to this topic from time to time.

Chernobyl: Chernobyl, in fact, is a medium-sized city in Byelorussia, a former USSR republic, now a free country. It is another story that in April 1986 the worst nuclear accident brought it to the world’s attention overnight.

In dealing with science of space, as in these articles, we are least likely to run into nuclear sciences. But this was a major accident that resulted in a large number of deaths and lasting damage to humans and animals of the area far around it, which must be understood in its consequence. The escaping radiation was more than a million times the permitted limit (like fire’s end product is smoke, nuclear fuel’s is radiation, being much worse). Deaths from cancer alone were in many hundred thousand —perhaps a million and more, besides serious ailments of many kinds.

It was estimated by authorities that over 20 per cent of the country’s population was affected by the disaster, and even countries far away.

The water they drink, the vegetables and the fruit they consume, the air that they breathe, all are seriously contaminated. The ailments include cancer, thyroid, anemia, birth-related defects, nasal and throat ailments, endocrine, blood and nervous systems have been caused to millions of people. A whole generation has no place to hide. Innocent people are suffering for the follies of reckless scientists and erring technicians. Even if they are suitably punished, it will resolve really nothing.

The lesson is of great precaution. Better still is that no nuclear facility may be built at all. My purpose of informing you was to enlighten you of the dangers of pollution of all kinds. Closed universe: A cosmological theory with little, if any hard evidence. It postulates that the expanding universe is bound to stop expanding at some future time. Then, it will be followed by a collapse of all galaxies, planets and what have you, toward one point, in a kind of reverse Big Bang, and rebound into a fresh expansion phase. You may call it Big Bang II!

Clouds: These are fine droplets of water or ice, visible to the naked eye, and moving right across the sky in whichever direction the prevailing wind takes them. The clouds are dispersed in the atmosphere far above, and near the Earth, at various altitudes ranging up to many miles.

Clouds are an important feature of the Earth’s character! Clouds both warm and cool the planet, presenting scientists and weather-men with an enigma for a long while. A thorough understanding of the effect they have on both weather and climate and global warming, and even greenhouse effect is necessary before understanding the phenomenon. For instance, clouds over water are different in character and heating effects than clouds over land. Or, those over the tropics differ from clouds in the temperate zones, in the way they reflect sunlight. Their behaviour does not permit climate assessment with certainty.

Comets: There are said to be planetary debris left over from the Big Bang, now surrounding most stars and always in orbit around them approaching various planets, if there are any, in the course of these orbits. This implies that they are nearly as old as the universe, that is, 13-15 billion years old.

As a humble astronomer of sort, I verily disagree for more than one reason. Comets being very small, and continuously breaking up and, forever colliding with each other, are not likely to exist for so long. Think about it. The fact that there may still be billions of them after such a vast period of time, is to speak the least, ludicrous. There are more reasons to back my assertion. We shall handle this issue during my discussion on comets, soon. Above all, when we talk of the period soon after the Big Bang, it should apply to nearly all stars, why only to the Sun?

Conservation laws: These laws of science suggest that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can be converted from one form to another, like, from petrol to mechanical energy in case of a car or any other machine. The amount of energy remains exactly the same, no matter what. It is an interesting paradox which needs to be understood comprehensively. Modern technology is built on the basis of these laws.

Good luck and God bless, my dear children. May you grow up to be great scientists. Ameen.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 19th, 2015