The text below is the last guest column on Seoul Newspaper by Kevin Insik Hahn, the director of CENS.
The last month of 2021 has arrived, but the global pandemic situation with COVID-19 has not improved significantly. Omicron, the latest variant of the virus, may assume global dominance in 3-6 months with an increased infection rate. In the midst of the 2-year pandemic, Director Hahn of CENS ponders the origin and history of Earth, the “Blue Marble” of the Universe. Which substance represents Earth the best, and which organism is its actual ruler?
The most significant substance which represents Earth is water (H2O), composed of two hydrogen atoms that are bound to an oxygen atom. From small and large ponds to large aqueducts in the Roman Empire and the Suez Canal, water can be considered as the ‘protagonist’ with ubiquitous influence – aided by the supporting cast known as the ‘humans’. The most abundant elements in the Universe are hydrogen and helium. However, the interior of Earth consists of iron, oxygen and silicon, in a descending order according to their mass ratios. Earth was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago by the clustering process of cosmic dust through gravitational attraction, and the cosmic dust was generated by large-scale astrophysical events such as supernovae or neutron star mergers.
For a relatable perspective on the history of Earth, Hahn considered a hypothetical compression of the 4.5-billion-year history of Earth into one calendar year. The environmental condition of the planet would have been too harsh for any living organism until November. Vegetation above ground would have emerged in early November, and insects and four-legged creatures would be seen in early December. Dinosaurs ruled Earth from December 13 until 26, when a meteorite with a size of Manhattan brought their extinction through its impact with Earth. Mankind was first seen on Earth at 23:35 on Dec. 31, and civilizations started at 23:55. The Industrial Revolution, which marked the beginning of humanity’s macroscopic impact on Earth’s environment, would have begun at 58.2 seconds of the last minute of the year.
From the above timeline, it is remarkable how humans have been able to disturb and threaten Earth’s environment in such a short time scale. Fossils of ancient living organisms turned into coal and oil: convenient sources of energy for advancement and comfort of humanity. But rampant uses of fossil fuels accelerated global warming, whose consequences include more powerful typhoons and floods around the world. Ironically, these phenomena can be considered as a retaliation of Nature through water, and by Earth itself. Perhaps this COVID pandemic is another great force of resistance for ecosystems which suffered from selfish human activities without any regard for the environment.
Hahn calls for more humility towards Nature, in spite of great achievements in science and technology. In reference to the size of the Universe and the age of Earth, humans should relinquish the insolent paradigm that they are more privileged than other living species and have the right to rule the world without repercussions. Even a virus, which by definition cannot sustain or multiply on its own, can be overpowering like today. Hahn hopes that the COVID virus mutates into a more innocuous form, such that it may coexist with people as like a common flu, or pass away altogether. And he vows to spend the rest of 2021 with respect for any animate or inanimate matter on Earth, which is a precious planet as well as a tiny speck in the vast Universe.
Link to the original column (in Korean): https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20211207029012
Center for Exotic Nuclear Studies