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THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com
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Our lonely universe hinges on frail politics HUGE excitement. Two Earth-size planets found orbiting a sun-like star less than a thousand light-years away. This comes two weeks after the stunning announcement of another planet orbiting another star at precisely the right distance – within the so-called “habitable zone” that is not too hot and not too cold – to allow for liquid water and therefore possible life. Unfortunately, the planets of the right size are too close to their sun, and thus too scorching hot, to permit Earth-like life. And the Goldilocks planet in the habitable zone is too large. At 2.4 times the size of Earth, it is likely gaseous, like Jupiter. No earthlings there. But it’s only a matter of time – perhaps a year or two, estimates one astronomer – before we find the right one of the right size in the right place. And at just the right time. As the romance of manned space exploration has waned, the drive today is to find our living, thinking counterparts in the universe. For all the excitement, however, the search betrays a profound melancholy – a lonely species anxiously awaits an answering voice amid utter silence. That silence is maddening. Not just because it compounds our feeling of cosmic isolation. But because it makes no sense. As we inevitably find more and more exo-planets where intelligent life can exist, why have we found no evidence – no signals, no radio waves – that intelligent life does exist? It’s called the Fermi Paradox, after the great physicist who once asked “Where is everybody?” Or as was once elaborated: “All our logic, all our antiisocentrism, assures us that we are not unique – that they must be there. And yet we do not see them.” How many of them should there be? Modern satellite data suggest the number should be very high. So why the silence? Carl Sagan (among others) thought that the answer is to be found, tragically, in the high probability that advanced civilizations destroy themselves. In other words, this silent universe is conveying not a flattering lesson about our uniqueness but a tragic story about our destiny. It is telling us that intelligence might be the most cursed faculty in the entire universe – an endowment not just ultimately fatal but, on the scale of cosmic time, near instantly so. This is not mere theory. Look around. On the very same day that astronomers
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ANOTHER VIEW
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 PAGE 3E
A photograph by Don Carey and words by Mark E. Jones
COMMENTARY CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER rejoiced at the discovery of the two Earth-size planets, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity urged two leading scientific journals not to publish details of lab experiments that just created a lethal and highly transmittable form of bird flu virus, lest that fateful knowledge fall into the wrong hands. Wrong hands, human hands. This is not just the age of holy terror, but also the threshold of an age of hyper-proliferation. Nuclear weapons in the hands of half-mad tyrants (North Korea) and radical apocalypticists (Iran) are just the beginning. Lethal biologic agents might soon find their way into the hands of those for whom genocidal pandemics loosed upon infidels are the royal road to redemption. And forget the psychopaths: Why, just 17 years after Homo sapiens discovered atomic power, those most stable and sober states, the United States and the Soviet Union, came within inches of mutual annihilation. Rather than despair, however, let’s put the most hopeful face on the cosmic silence and on humanity’s own short, already baleful history with its new Promethean powers: Intelligence is a capacity so godlike, so protean that it must be contained and disciplined. This is the work of politics – understood as the ordering of society and the regulation of power to permit human flourishing while simultaneously restraining the most Hobbesian human instincts. There could be no greater irony: For all the sublimity of art, physics, music, mathematics and other manifestations of human genius, everything depends on the mundane, frustrating, often debased vocation known as politics. Because if we don’t get politics right, everything else risks extinction. We grow justly weary of our politics. But we must remember this: Politics – in all its grubby, grasping, corrupt, contemptible manifestations – is sovereign in human affairs. Everything ultimately rests upon it. Fairly or not, politics is the driver of history. It will determine whether we will live long enough to be heard one day. Out there. By them, the few – the only – who got it right. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.
now goose, your very name brings a chill. The sight of you, hunkered down S in Pennsylvania’s wetlands – your winter getaway from ruthless arctic air – reminds us to call the travel agent and inquire about upcoming flights to Florida. It’s instinctual. Yes, snow goose, our adaptations might be slightly different; but deep down we are birds of a feather.
America falling behind in science, technology very broad area of biology, from the fundamental molecular structure of telomeres, or chromosome ends, to the role CAROL W. of telomeres in mediating GREIDER human disease. It was this connection of fundamental floor of the Congress – even as chromosomes biology and diseases such as cancer and other nations are stepping up research. age-related degenerative proctheir determination to match Congress recently passed esses that led to my Nobel legislation providing a modest and exceed the United States Prize in physiology or medin discovery. It takes years to increase in funding to the Narealize the multiple benefits of icine in 2009. My early training tional Institutes of Health, fostered the habits of mind and science; without adequate, which funds research at the sustained funding for research, ingenuity that led to awardJohns Hopkins University and winning discovery. It is essenthe careers of many bright, other universities, academic young scientists might come to tial, if we want to continue to medical centers, small busireap the benefits of science, to a screeching halt. nesses and independent recommit as a nation to preparFederal funding for biomedsearch institutions across the ing more young people for United States. That’s the good ical sciences plays a critical role in training the next gener- extraordinary careers in scinews. ence. ation of scientists. Research The bad news is that this How is that possible in this dollars from the NIH and Naincrease doesn’t make up for economic climate? tional Science Foundation, the $300 million-plus cut the According to the NIH’s OfNIH received in the last budget Department of Energy and fice of Extramural Research, other agencies do more than go-round; much less does it the agency funded only 17.4 pay for test tubes and microkeep pace with the increasing scopes. Most of the budget of a percent of research grant applicost of conducting medical cations in the last fiscal year, a research lab goes directly toresearch. As we reflect on a historic low. If we continue on ward the training of graduate year that brought scientific this path, young investigators students and postdoctoral breakthroughs that ultimately will improve the treatment and fellows. Critical thinking and a might well take their brain power to other countries prevention of disease, we must strong curiosity for finding where research and develthat “needle in the haystack” pay heed to the extraordinary are skills that must be acquired opment is now a growing, not challenges facing scientists, shrinking, share of the gross to support creative, outsideparticularly young scientists. domestic product. This should the-box initiatives. Our traiThey always have aspired to nees leave federally supported raise concerns here at home – making world-class contribulabs to apply their new skills at and indeed, a recent Researtions, but as they very well ch!America poll shows approxknow, their chances of success research institutions and in imately 80 percent of Amerindustry, and in doing so susin the United States today are icans believe the United States tain America’s world leadfading by the week. is losing its global competitive ership in science and innovaOur nation’s elected leaders edge in science, technology are not championing science – tion. and innovation. Given public In my own lab, I support or even talking about it, during young researchers who study a concern about stalled econompresidential debates or on the YOU WIN some, you lose some. That appears to be the current state of affairs with federal funding for
COMMENTARY
According to the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research, the agency funded only 17.4 percent of research grant applications in the last fiscal year, a historic low. If we continue on this path, young investigators might well take their brain power to other countries … ic growth, and the slowdown in innovation and its resultant benefits, why haven’t our elected leaders stepped up? Students and postdoctoral fellows largely depend on the support of the public sector to finance the training and research that will make them world-renowned scientists. They’re worried about their futures and their capacities to establish and sustain careers in a tough fiscal environment. This is the time for our elected leaders, and those who aspire to be, to become outspoken champions of research, calling for greatly enhanced investment in the next budget cycle, before the United States loses our competitive edge and with it more and more of our young talent pool. Carol W. Greider, a 2009 Nobel laureate in physiology/medicine, is Daniel Nathans Professor and director of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her email is cgreider@jhmi.edu. She wrote this for the Baltimore Sun.
LETTERS FROM READERS
Animal rescue advocates praised
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am writing in reference to the article “Tough not to love,” printed on Dec. 18 in The Times Leader. As a volunteer of both organizations, Modified K9 and Blue Chip Farm, I thank the community for its generosity and outpouring of donations. During the holiday season, when many people are short on funds, it is heartwarming to see the community support of animal rescue programs that are dedicated to helping animals that can’t help themselves. On behalf of both Modified K9 Pit Bull Rescue and Blue Chip Farm No Kill Animal Refuge, I offer sincere thanks to Lisa Gryskavicz of Valley Dog in Larksville for hosting the event, The Times Leader for its news article about it and Lamar Advertising for helping us to spread the word. Linda Antosh Exeter
MOUNTAIN LAURELS Mountain Laurels is a regular series of letters from readers conveying thanks to individuals or groups for their support, help or kindness.
Santa to a Senior program triumphs
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n behalf of the staff at Home Instead Senior Care, I thank everyone who helped with this year’s very successful Be a Santa to a Senior program. With support from generous shoppers, the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming Counties, Walmart in Pittston and Walgreens in Kingston, Wilkes-Barre and Dallas, we were able to collect more than 300 gifts for area seniors who otherwise might have been overlooked this holiday season. We also thank the many volunteers who shared their time to collect, wrap and deliver the gifts. Thanks to all those who helped us brighten the holi-
days for our local seniors and truly make a difference in our community. Alyssa Maria Co-owner Home Instead Senior Care Luzerne
Sock drive comes home a winner
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o all those people who gave to the sock drive: Thank you for your support of Making A Difference Ministries, which is a nonprofit, faith-based organization committed to meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the homebound, youth, families, homeless, hungry, poverty stricken and those in spiritual distress in our area. Our most recent efforts have been to gather socks for those in need. Tanya Olaviany
of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bridge, a program of Catholic Social Services, was so grateful to receive two deliveries of socks for the children enrolled in its program. So far, hundreds of pairs of socks have been delivered. Vince Kabacinski of the Mother Teresa Haven Program of Catholic Social Services also was the recipient of socks for homeless men in our area. These men often have nothing new to wear. A new pair of socks helps to keep them comfortable and dry on cold winter nights. How often do we take for granted how simple it is to have new, clean and cozy socks to wear? Making A Difference Ministries has made a commitment to those in need, and the sock drive already has made a distinct difference to many. Socks will continue to be collected until March 9. Donations are being accepted at the following locations: • Phoenix Rehabilitation in the Koral Building, 311 Market St., Kingston.
• Pennoni Associates Inc., in the Jewelcor Building, 100 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd., WilkesBarre. • Fidelity Bank, 247 Wyoming Ave., Kingston. • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins office, in The Ice Rink, 40 Coal St., WilkesBarre. For more information, visit www.unitybymusic.org. Stephen L. Perillo Director Making A Difference Ministries Wilkes-Barre
Live Nativity inspires awe
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n Dec. 2, I was fortunate to be able to attend an event that I will not soon forget. The members of St. Faustina’s parish in Nanticoke presented an outdoor Nativity at their grove on Newport Street that was absolutely awe-inspiring. I was astounded to see the professionalism of this group
of performers. A woman dressed in a beautiful white gown sang with a voice that made me think I was back in a theater in New York. The acting on the part of the rest of the cast was outstanding. “Mary” rode into the scene on a burro. The shepherds tended a flock of sheep. The magi brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus lying in a manger. The scene was absolutely beautiful and certainly appreciated by the huge crowd in attendance. The technicians who handled the audio also did an outstanding job. The costuming was professionally done; the actors really “looked” their parts. I want everyone who was not able to see this production to mark their calendars, so as to not miss this show next year. I know, Lord willing, that I certainly will be there. Nick Pucino Nanticoke