29 Nov 05
Originally posted by WulebgrThere's a great opening to "Good Omens" a book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman that amongst other things says the dinosaurs are a joke that nobody's got yet, or words to that effect.
Unquestionably, God made the world look old so that scientists could become fools.
I should find it and type it out. Especially the part about the Earth being a Libra.
29 Nov 05
I think the important thing to point out here is that, whilst science may use extrapolation and theory to examine the subject, there are empirical processes involved which whilst not perhaps complete (I'm not a geologist so I am unfamiliar with all the processes involved in dating such things, galaxies, the earth, fossils etc.), do provide an enormous body of evidence to support the theory that the earth is indeed older than 6000 years. On the other hand, there is no evidence on the part of the young earth advocate to support their theory outside of faith. Now faith is fine if you're attempting to justify a personal belief in the supernatural if that is how you see things, it is in no way sufficient on behalf of natural matters. And if dj2becker comes in and spouts anything about halos, I assure you there are plenty of articles of research disputing such ideas as faulty.
29 Nov 05
Originally posted by StarrmanHear hear!!! Well done, at least a rational voice. My good sir i may have to challenge you to a game of chess!
I think the important thing to point out here is that, whilst science may use extrapolation and theory to examine the subject, there are empirical processes involved which whilst not perhaps complete (I'm not a geologist so I am unfamiliar with all the processes involved in dating such things, galaxies, the earth, fossils etc.), do provide an enormous body ...[text shortened]... out halos, I assure you there are plenty of articles of research disputing such ideas as faulty.
29 Nov 05
Originally posted by sasquatch672Essentially yes you're right. My understanding is that the sun acts like a fusion reactor though. The immense gravity caused by the mass literally squeezes hydrogen atoms togther to make helium. Earth on the other hand is a fission reactor, but happily only not nearly on the same scale as the sun - we just don;t have enough radioactive elements in sufficient concentrations or purity to go into a run-away chain reaction. btw, here in NZ quite alot of our energy is geothermal in origin.
Well, not really. If you were talking about the sun, then it's certainly a big nuclear reactor. But, well hell, if fission was going on in the earth's crust, our energy - we wouldn't be talking about alternative energies right now.
Truth be told, there is tonnes of energy available out there, more every day! We just like to depend on the photosynthesis of organisms some 100 - 400 million years ago...
30 Nov 05
Originally posted by sasquatch672There are reports of a natural nucleur reactor that kept itself running and stable for thousands of years in a uranium deposit.
Well, not really. If you were talking about the sun, then it's certainly a big nuclear reactor. But, well hell, if fission was going on in the earth's crust, our energy - we wouldn't be talking about alternative energies right now.
30 Nov 05
1 edit
Originally posted by XanthosNZAye there are, I've mentioned this before, but here's a take on it from people who are interested in storing waste from power generating nuclear reactors.
There are reports of a natural nucleur reactor that kept itself running and stable for thousands of years in a uranium deposit.
http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/factsheets/doeymp0010.shtml
30 Nov 05
Originally posted by KneverKnightexcellent stuff guys, thanks! The 'more power every day' i was referring to was, of course, incident radiation (i.e. sunlight)...
Aye there are, I've mentioned this before, but here's a take on it from people who are interested in storing waste from power generating nuclear reactors.
http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/factsheets/doeymp0010.shtml
30 Nov 05
Originally posted by sasquatch672Oh, also Sasquatch, I never said the crust (although according to Xanthios it also happens here). I was referring to somewhere a little deeper! Try the mantle / core.
Well, not really. If you were talking about the sun, then it's certainly a big nuclear reactor. But, well hell, if fission was going on in the earth's crust, our energy - we wouldn't be talking about alternative energies right now.