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By C. Jake Williams. July 9, 2008
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Ever heard that the Earth's axis is tilted, which throughout the year causes our two extreme seasons and two moderate seasons? Well I had, but what I had not done was think about that concept for more than thirty seconds in my life, until now!
The Earth's axis is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees because of a process called precession. The classic example of precession is that of a slowing top: The handle will point up while the top spins rapidly and slowly lean outward more and more as the rotation slows. The Earth is doing the same thing once every year, or so I assumed.
In actuality, a precession of once per year would cause either a) one constant angle to the sun or b) eight seasons annually, depending upon which direction our planet preceeds in relation to its orbit about the sun. Only by preceeding at an almost undetectible pace can four seasons come about per year.
But this isn't the point I'd like to make today.
The point I'm trying to make today is a lesson for NASA to consider.
I'm sure everyone was thrilled - I was - when our space program announced the discovery of water on the surface of mars. I mean, after all, only 71% of the Earth is covered by water, so what are the odds of Mars having simple molecules formed by hydrogen and oxygen? 19:1? 100:1?
Guaranteed?
The search for water apparently was launched because it's a baby step in the search for life. It's sort of like quickly verifying your child has a head while checking to see if they're healthy.
Here's my point: instead of looking for water on the planets near us in hopes of finding life, maybe we should be looking for planets with a moderately-tilted and slowly-precessing axis and then take a close look at them.
It's my theory that solar radiation has an underestimated role in the mutation of single-celled organisms into multi-celled ones, if not from lifeless organic compounds into living, reproducing beasts. But too much radiation will just destroy. What you need is radiation in moderation, spurts of more intense exposure followed by months of moderate intensity for natural selection to choose the best mutations for the future.
Basically, you need to look for the condition that led to complex life on Earth. Water is not that condition; slow precession is.
But really, I'm thrilled that we now know for certain that Mars contains one of the most common chemical compounds in the universe. Great work America!
You were there.