Heralding Freedom of the Press Since 2003
PERSPECTIVE
Discovery of early Earth fresh water challenges theory
of life’s origins
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Evidence of fresh water deep inside Earth has thrown a wrench in scientists' longstanding theory of a salty, ocean-smothered Earth existing four billion years ago.
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Fresh water, which is essential to life, appeared 500 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
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Proponents of the "water world" theory have long held that Earth was once enveloped by a global ocean with little visible land. A 2021 Harvard University study supported the idea, suggesting Earth's primordial ocean could have covered the entire surface three to four billion years ago.
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Life may have originated in warm springs on the ocean floor, according to the theory — such as the hydrothermal vents called "black smokers" discovered in 1980 near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
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By analyzing ancient crystals from the Jack Hills in western Australia, however, scientists from Curtin University discovered fresh water on Earth just a few hundred million years after the planet's formation.
Curtin University's Hugo Olierook with a rock from the Jack Hills in Western Australia, containing zircon crystals. (Curtin University)
Researchers looked at the age and oxygen isotopes in small zircon crystals using the CAMECA 1300HR3 instrument at Curtin’s John de Laeter Centre’s Large Geometry Ion Microprobe facility.
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They discovered that these crystals had very light isotopic signatures dating back four billion years. These light isotopes usually happen when hot, fresh water changes rocks several kilometers below Earth's surface.
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“Evidence of fresh water this deep inside Earth challenges the existing theory that Earth was completely covered by ocean four billion years ago,” said Hamed Gamaleldien, adjunct research fellow at Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Australia, in a press release announcing the research.
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Important Perspectives On Aging in California
California’s Aging Services Offer Valuable Resources for Older Adults
As we grow older, our needs and priorities change. In California, a wide range of services is available to help you maintain your independence, stay connected, and lead a fulfilling life. Whether you’re looking for support with daily tasks, health care guidance, or planning for the future, California’s aging services
are here to help.
Aging in Place
Many of you may prefer to stay in your own home as you get older. California offers programs that can assist with home repairs, transportation, and in-home care. Additionally, health and social care programs, including day centers with activities like arts and exercise, help you stay independent.
Nutrition Services
You can enjoy home-delivered meals or gather for group meals at local centers. For those with limited income, there are options to get fresh produce and other food benefits through the CalFresh Expansion program.
Health Insurance Guidance
Confused about health insurance options? The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides guidance on Medicare and long-term care insurance.
Support for Caregivers
If you are caring for an older adult, there are programs like Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) and the Family Caregiver Support Program offering respite, counseling, and assistance with paperwork. CRCs also provide action plans for families dealing with dementia.
Legal Assistance
Facing issues like consumer fraud, elder abuse or age prejudice? Legal Services are available to help with Social Security, health insurance, pensions, and more.
Employment Opportunities
Looking for a job? Free training and job placement services are available for older Californians.
Emergency Preparedness
Planning for emergencies is especially important as we age. California offers resources to help you prepare for natural disasters, power outages, and other emergencies. Creating a personal emergency plan, keeping an emergency kit ready, and staying informed about local resources can make all the difference.
For more information call the California Aging and Adult info line at 800-510-2020 or visiting aging.ca.gov.
According to study co-author Hugo Olierook from Curtin University’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, the presence of fresh water in Earth’s early history provided the conditions necessary for life to emerge.
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“This discovery not only sheds light on Earth’s early history but also suggests that landmasses and fresh water set the stage for life to flourish within a relatively short time frame — less than 600 million years after the planet formed,” Olierook said in the release.
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“The findings mark a significant step forward in our understanding of Earth’s early history and open doors for further exploration into the origins of life.”
Something to re-consider in light of the Word: Roe v. Wade
By JARRETTE FELLOWS, JR.
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God endowed us with “free will.” Doesn’t that equate to “choice” for a woman in deciding to abort her unborn child or give birth to it?
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The US Supreme Court thought it did in 1973, when it ruled in the landmark decision, Roe v. Wade, that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.
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The High Court struck down many US state and federal abortion laws and prompted an ongoing national debate in the US about whether and to what extent abortion should be legal, who should decide the legality of abortion, what methods the Supreme Court should use in constitutional adjudication, and what the role of religious and moral views in the political sphere should be.
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The latter has been a roiling debate for nearly 50 years and there appears to be no end in sight.
The premise of my personal view, however, not quite in sync with the Court’s reasoning, underscores a higher authority — the providence of God and free will. There is no question that God is the arbiter of all life and honors all life as sacred. But God gave human beings the option to choose … whether we will choose salvation through Jesus Christ or damnation through courtship with the “world”; or whether a woman will choose to abort her unborn fetus, for whatever reason or choose death.
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A woman will have to live with the consequences of her actions, but it is clear in light of the Word that “Choice” and “Life” are a woman’s options. And in the finality, God will be the judge.