“The Dying Sun” by Sir James Jeans explores the vastness of the universe and the origin of our solar system. Jeans describes the incredible scale of stars, some so large that millions of Earths could fit inside them. He emphasizes the loneliness of stars in space, with the average star being millions of miles away from its nearest neighbor.
The narrative suggests that about two billion years ago, a rare event occurred when another star came near the sun. This close encounter caused immense tidal waves on the sun’s surface, leading to the formation of a mountain. As the second star moved away, its tidal pull tore the mountain apart, giving rise to small pieces that became the planets, including Earth.
Jeans explains that stars, including our sun, are extremely hot, but over time, these cooling pieces (planets) lose their heat and derive warmth from the sun’s radiation. Eventually, life emerged on one of these cooling pieces, starting with simple organisms capable of reproduction.
The essay touches on the mystery of how, when, and why life originated on Earth, highlighting the humble beginnings of life in simple organisms. Overall, “The Dying Sun” provides a cosmic perspective on the formation of our solar system and the potential for life to arise in the vastness of space.
- Chapter No. 15 Homeostasis 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 16 Support and Movement 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 17 Coordination and Control 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 18 Reproduction 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 19 Growth and Development 2nd Year Biology