francene--blog. Year 2013
  • Home
  • Blog

May 17th

5/17/2013

 
Picturewww.guardian.co.uk
A television program I watched last night spoke about discovering a new planet likely to be similar to earth. Of all the stars and planets in the galaxy and beyond, there are very few environments that would support life as we know it.

Newly found extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, are part of a vast menagerie of celestial bodies NASA has discovered 1,200 light-years away in recent years. Our Milky Way galaxy alone is now known to have hundreds of billions of planets circling its stars. Exoplanets that are Earth-size, are rocky or watery, or that exist in habitable zones in relation to their suns have all been found before. But two newly discovered planets appear to meet all three criteria. And because of their sizes and orbits, the newfound planets are likely either rocky—like Earth—or watery, NASA scientists said.


Picturejaysromanhistory.com
What would mankind do if they found another planet they could live on? Invade? Show the inhabitants a better way of life?

The Romans conquered and converted locals to their system during the time of Christ and beyond. When they invaded England to harvest precious metals, they changed the structure of the Ugly British way of life from small villages to well-structured towns.


Picture
Picture
Boudicca has been called the first British heroine because of the revolt she led.

By AD 61, the Romans were in control of southern Britain. Many of the inhabitants adopted Roman ways. Trouble started in East Anglia. Prasutagus, the king of the Iceni tribe, was a friend of the Romans. When he died, he left half his kingdom to the Roman emperor, and half to his wife, Queen Boudicca. The Romans wanted it all. They also wanted extra taxes and they wanted Boudicca to give up her throne. With reluctance, she tried to fit in, but when they raped and killed her daughters while she watched, she vowed revenge.

Picture
This is the back entrance of St. Albans cathedral, rebuilt after Boudicca's army destroyed the town.
Picture
A typicl street in modern-day St. Albans town with pubs, shops and inns.
Boudicca destroyed the Roman town of St. Albans and her way to Londonium and laid waste to that as well. On her return journey home, she passed the spot I live on the old Roman road, now called Watling Street. The Romans wiped out her entire following of men, women and children in the fields before she reached St. Albans.

I'm not sure human nature has changed. Would man invade new worlds they found? Even if they considered the inhabitants ugly and uncivilized, would they rape the women?

Or are the scientists indulging in curiosity? Are they satisfying our wonder at being alone in the universe? We don't have the technology to travel hundreds of light years to visit the Earth-like planets anyway. Perhaps we just need to know there are other forms of life beyond our understanding. In the meantime, let's conquer the weakness in human nature.

Wendy Bottrell link
5/17/2013 03:15:35 am

Well said, let's conquer the weakness in human nature. Enjoyed! Thanks. Best Regards, Wendy UBC

Beth Camp link
5/17/2013 03:36:52 am

Fascinating post and the pictures add depth. Mary Doria Russell's books THE SPARROW and CHILDREN OF GOD explore exactly these questions of 'first contact.' Russell is/was a cultural anthropologist and felt her ideas weren't reaching a wide enough audience, so she turned to fiction. Have you read her? Hi from Beth

Francene Stanley link
5/17/2013 07:16:45 pm

I must seek out the book you spoke about. Sounds good.

Rachel Lavern link
5/17/2013 04:02:18 am

I recall reading about the ability of human beings to live on another planet years ago and it was though that the Earth was the only planet possessing the necessary balance for us. Of course, technology is always advancing and that assessment may have changed and beginning to change.

Rachel recently posted <a href="http://workfromyourhome101.com/the-16-habits-of-highly-unsuccessful-people/">The 16 Habits of Highly Unsuccessful People</a>

Francene Stanley link
5/17/2013 07:26:57 pm

Now, they think life as we know it needs water and rock on the planet.

Suerae Stein link
5/17/2013 05:05:40 am

Fascinating story about Boudicca and the Romans. I can't say that I blame her for wanting revenge. I have a feeling that man's need to know everything would not bode well for another planet with similar life forms. I sometimes wonder if our insatiable quest for knowledge is a weakness in human nature. It seems that so many of our explorations end with harm being done in some way. Very provocative post, Francene!

Francene Stanley link
5/17/2013 07:30:00 pm

The quest for knowledge, of itself, isn't harmful. What mankind does when he finds something new seems to cause and imbalance. Maybe by then we'll understand more about the harm we could do.

Amy link
5/17/2013 07:20:42 am

Francene, very thought-provoking and fascinating topic. My first thought was, when you asked what man would do if a planet with inhabitants was found, was "depends if there was oil or other precious natural resources were there." I'm afraid man's nature is to conquer and consume.

Francene Stanley link
5/17/2013 07:35:26 pm

I think you're right, Amy. Greed would conquer if we invaded another planet right now.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Catastrophe
    Creativity
    Family
    Life Experiences
    Mother
    News
    Novel Writing
    Novel-writing
    Retirement
    World

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Parker Knight