Water, the elixir of life, has long been a source of fascination and curiosity for scientists and thinkers alike. As we marvel at the vast oceans and meandering rivers that adorn our planet, it's intriguing to ponder the origins of this essential substance. The story of water's origin is a cosmic saga that allegedly spans billions of years, involving celestial processes and astrophysical events.
The Hypothesized Primordial Universe:
The journey of water begins in the supposedly primordial universe, just moments after the much-touted Big Bang. During the early stages of this theoretical cosmic evolution, the universe was a hot, dense sea of particles and radiation. As the universe expanded and cooled, some of these particles began to combine to form the simplest of atoms: hydrogen and helium.
Please note that based on data gathered by the fly-by of New Horizons, astronomers made the case for a gentle coming together, with no evidence of squashing.: “Scientists say they have ‘decisively’ overturned the prevailing theory for how planets in our Solar System formed.” (Ghosh, P., New Horizons spacecraft ‘alters theory of planet formation’, bbc.com, 13 Feb 2020.)
Furthermore, many astronomers now say: “…we can no longer speak with any sort of knowledge or confidence as to how—or even whether—the universe itself began.” (Siegel, E., We now know the big bang theory is (probably) not how the universe began, freethink.com, 30 Oct 2012.)
Birth of Stars:
Stars, those celestial furnaces, according to secularists, played a pivotal role in the creation of water. Within the cores of massive stars, nuclear fusion transformed hydrogen into helium, releasing immense amounts of energy in the process. As these stars reached the end of their life cycles, they underwent spectacular explosions known as supernovae.
Supernova Nurtures Complexity:
During a supernova, the intense temperatures and pressures give rise to the fusion of lighter elements into heavier ones, including oxygen. This newly formed oxygen, along with other elements, gets ejected into space, enriching the interstellar medium with the raw materials necessary for the creation of water.
Stellar Nurseries and Planetary Formation:
The enriched interstellar medium, now teeming with elements like oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, becomes the birthplace of new stars and planetary systems. Within the swirling disks of gas and dust surrounding these young stars, planets begin to take shape. Water molecules gradually form on the surfaces of dust grains, creating the building blocks for future oceans. The allusion to the Kuiper Belt is conjecture. No direct evidence of this region has been established.
The Blue Planet:
From a secularist's perspective, our very own Earth owes its watery existence to a fortuitous combination of factors. As the solar system took shape, Earth "found" itself at a distance from the Sun where temperatures allowed water to exist in liquid form. Comets, icy remnants from the outer reaches of the solar system, also played a role in delivering additional water to our planet.
Continual Water Cycling:
Today, Earth's water undergoes a constant cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, sustaining life as we know it. This intricate dance of water molecules connects the oceans, atmosphere, and land in a harmonious rhythm that supports the diverse ecosystems of our planet.
In tracing the origin of water, we find ourselves on a cosmic odyssey, witnessing the alchemy of stars and the intricate interplay of elements across the vast expanses of space and time. As we cherish the oceans, lakes, and rivers that grace our planet, let us also marvel at the celestial processes that gifted us this precious elixir of life.
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