Knowledge Goes A Long Way

It has been a long time since I have updated. I was very busy for about 2-3 months and not able to do some Astronomy. I finally have some break. Again I am going on a journey to see more celestial bodies to a place where there are more starry nights. So there will be no posts until January, 2010. Instead of writing about something related to Astronomy and Space, I have decided to write about the value of knowledge.


Knowledge is something that can always be treasured. Knowledge can make someone special and wise enough to give advice. Some of us see knowledge as a form of sharpening our skills. Our world does run on knowledge. When we are equipped with vast knowledge, we would have a better knowledge. This may not always be true as knowledge is not the only thing that drives the world. Being knowledgeable need not always relate to high position. Some of our famous ancestors weren't that knowledgeable but possessed good leadership qualities.


Doing something unique unlike others makes me feel that I am highly centred in it as compared to the. At the same time I feel isolated when no one takes interest on my special activity. But that does not bother me as taking interest in my hobby brings me to a totally different world. I tend to imagine the processes that happen in cosmos while reading some of the famous books composed by Hawking and S.Chandra. There is a big world outside our world. I even ask big questions like, is it possible to split space and time? I even wonder would there be a time where we could visit other planetary systems. If that happens, visiting the moon would be equivalent to leaving your home and travelling to Titan would be like a bus ride.


Knowledge can bring us a long way. As I started from the basic solar system to the more complex cosmic activities which takes place hundreds or thousands of light years away. The concept of anti-matter is still put to doubt. But I still understand that there are limitations to certain things which science cannot explain. Only an almighty would create these energies in space. God shows us nearly everything around us in a form of science. So how does knowledge about space and cosmos help us? It helps us in certain ways like the technology to detect incoming meteors can prevent from a major disaster like the one which occurred 65 million years ago. But the knowledge about the behavior of comets can further prevent such a disaster as acting after detection would be too late. We would also need to protect the other animals and plants from danger.


Other than the disaster which took place 65 million years ago, there was even a more catastrophic disaster which took place at the end of Paleozoic era. About 90% of the species were wiped off. This was due to many reasons. One of these reasons was that large amount of radiation emitted by a near by supernova caused plants and animal species to be badly affected. I do not mean that we have to be extra prepared for a supernova explosion. We just need to ensure that we have enough protection against such radiation. Just reduce carbon emissions and stop depleting the ozone layer. The extinction which marked the end of Paleozoic era was caused by coincidental events which could only be created by God.


Lastly, knowledge can be a form of medicine, not in the way we mean. I meant that a knowledgeable and wise person would find proper solutions to problems. This knowledge cannot be acquired from books and only be obtained from lifetime experience. This is why most people seek advice from the wise and old in the olden days. So acquire the right knowledge and put it to use in a proper way.