Light and Life in the Universe (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Light And Life in The Universe: Selected Lectures in Physics, Biology and the Origin of Life 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 6
Dedication 3
INTRODUCTION 8
CONTRIBUTORS OF LECTURES 10
PART 1: ATOMS AND THE UNIVERSE -THE BUILDING BLOCKS AND ENVIRONMENT FOR LIFE 12
CHAPTER 1. Atoms, Molecules and Nuclei 14
(a) Matter consisting of atoms or molecules 14
(b) Fundamental Particles 15
(c) Atoms 16
(d) Approximate Integral Values of Atomic Weights 18
(e) Molecules 21
(f) Gases, Liquids and Solids 23
(g) Nuclear Forces 26
(h) Isotopes 29
(i) Avogadro's Number 31
(j) "Lifetime" of the Neutron 32
CHAPTER 2. Electro-Magnetic Radiation —Bohr's Theory of the Atom 46
(a) Electric and Magnetic Fields produced by accelerating charge. 47
(b) Velocity of Propagation of Electric and Magnetic Influence 54
(c) Radiation from Accelerating Charges 57
(d) Electro-magnetic Radiation 61
(e) The Hydrogen Atom and Bohr Theory 65
(f) Summary and Discussion 77
CHAPTER 3. The Influence of Gravitational Fields 80
(a) The Solar System 80
(b) Galaxies 81
(c) Gravitational Fields 87
(d) Calculation of Satellite Speeds 89
(e) The Energy of an Earth Satellite 92
CHAPTER 4. The Origin of the Solar System 96
(a) Laplace's theory. 96
(b) Angular momentum of the solar system. 97
(c) Modern theory of solar system formation. 100
(d) The accumulation theory of planets. 103
(e) Life cycle of a sun. 108
CHAPTER 5. Evolution of the Earth 112
(a) Age of the earth 112
(b) Radioactivity 115
(c) Radioactive dating 119
(d) Evolution of the earth 120
CHAPTER 6. The Primordial Atmosphere and the Origin of Life 126
(a) The primordial atmosphere 126
(b) The production of ozone in the earth's atmosphere 128
PART 2: LIFE IN THE GALAXY 134
ARE WE ALONE? 136
THE GALACTIC CLUB 138
THE LIFE PHENOMENON 141
MESSENGER PROBES IN SPACE 143
PART 3: LIFE AND ITS ORIGIN 148
CHAPTER 1: Introducing Proteins 150
CHAPTER 2. The Functions of Proteins 170
CHAPTER 3. The Problem of the Origin of Life 194
CHAPTER 4. Alone in the Universe ? 222
CHAPTER 5. Reason and Purpose in Biology 248
CHAPTER 6. The Practical Effects of Biology on our Lives 268
PART 4: THE REPLICATION OF LIVING MOLECULES 300
CHAPTER 1. Introduction 302
CHAPTER 2. A Chemist's Look at the Living Cell 310
(a) All the molecules in a cell can be derived from each other by chemical reactions occurring within cells 314
(b) The construction of macromolecules by the linear linking of small molecules 317
(c) Almost all the chemical reaction rates in living cells are speeded up by enzymes 323
(d) Energy conserved during degradative transformation is used to drive biosynthesis reactions 325
(e) Molecules are restrictively sticky 327
(f) A tendency for cell expansion exists because of osmotic pressure on the cell surface 328
CHAPTER 3. The Concept of Template Surfaces 330
The synthesis of small molecules 330
Synthesis of a large "small" molecule 334
Synthesis of a regular very large polymeric molecule (glycogen) 335
A deeper look into protein structure 337
Enzymes cannot be used to order amino acids in proteins 340
Template interactions are based on weak bonds acting over short distances 340
Attraction of opposites is easier to visualize than self-attraction 343
A chemical argument against the existence of protein templates 345