Essay Abstract
What's it all about? Now big is the universe? Why are we here? What lies beyond. Which way to the goal? All such far reaching questions are difficult to form clearly when we use a common language. And we each have a variety of tongue that is ours alone. Responding to such queries is almost in vain. First I must frame the question as my own then state an answer in a voice that may be seen by some in my tribe. The challenge presented by FQXI is open enough to be approached from most any direction. Building blocks of life as we know it on Earth are found at the farthest reaches of our celestial instruments. Calcium shells containing snippets of DNA blast in from all directions of the starry compass and rain down on land and sea. Living creatures provide an environment where these nanobacteria thrive. Each one seems unique with just a blueprint for reproduction and borrowed DNA for structure. Earth's present creatures are individually and collectively capable of self destruction. Could such lead to a Universal Goal? Butterflies and geese; penguin and caribou - many will take the leed, cut a trail or break the wind but Emperors and Monarchs seldom see the goal. Navigation is very much a community effort. Still a few will follow a strong leader on a course to doom. Gamma ray burst come in two flavors. One natural and one from star - planet systems somewhat like our own. Could these GRBs be evidence of the the last gesture of a failed life form? Efforts to communicate in a common language call upon science, math and logic. We may even resort to rhyme and song or art and dance. In 9 brief pages I will describe how I found my answer.
Author Bio
Question geometry, numbers "dark and light." How to ask and answer. "How does sun light make shadows?" Seeing our home and garage at (36.933804, -93.055313) one can imagine what this question was for me. The sun set my world aglow with shapes and shadows that swept through the building. Bundles of light presented more questions than words could express. See first contest The Nature of Time. Today I have no doubt about the nature of light nor of the origin and direction of time. Question not the goal of the Universe only how to answer