Remember we all have to die.
A rather morbid expression you might think to start a blog post. But it’s a truth non of us mortals can completely ignore this great truth in life because life and death are so intertwined.
We all know we are going to die but non of us know when? Being a Brit the whole of the United Kingdom is in mourning for Queen Elizabeth 11 . The Queen died on September 12 2022 at the age of 96. In fact she was on the throne of the United Kingdom for nearly the whole of my life time.
My Mum Gladys died last December 2021 at the grand old age of 99 she never actually reached 100. Mum and the Queen Elizabeth were born in the 1920’s and both lived long lives.
When we look up at the night sky, especially when you have no background light pollution, you can only marvel at the utter beauty and the immensity of the universe.
Many of us mortals ask the question is the other life out there? Or our we on earth unique in the whole of the universe? Earth with its abundance of millions and millions of life forms.
Life; living matter and, as such, matter that shows certain attributes that include responsiveness, growth, metabolism, energy transformation, and reproduction.
How and why did life form? Did it happen in the beginning of the formation of planet earth, did it happen after the big collision and the formation of the moon? or during the heavy bombardment stage. it certainly happened in the oceans maybe down at one of the thermal vents or smokers.
What is the simplest form of life? A cell and what’s a cell? the smallest unit that can live on its own and that makes up all living organisms and the tissues of the body.
A cell has three main parts: the cell membrane, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm. The cell membrane surrounds the cell and controls the substances that go into and out of the cell.
The most complex life form is a water flea.
Of all the invertebrate genomes sequenced so far, the water flea shares the most with us, and scientists hope these shared genes can help them understand how humans respond to environmental threats.
The water flea, a shrimp relative, makes for an interesting subject because it can transform in response to stresses — it can develop spines, helmets or neck-teeth (really) in response to predator threats, according to scientists who participated in the sequencing project.
They believe the vast number of genes is related to these abilities — its gene expression patterns change depending on its environment. It has been compared to a modern mineshaft canary because of its responses to pollutants and environmental changes.
No scientist has a definitive answer how life began on planet Earth? I believe life developed into complex organisms like the water flea due to the surrounding environment. Humans are rare among mammals for their lack of a dense layer of protective fur or hair.
Humans became hairless to provide better temperature control in varied climates. This conventional view argues that hair was no longer necessary because humans could regulate their environment with the use of shelter, fire, and clothing.
Sweat glands all so allow humans to lose body heat whilst running after game. Bipedal locomotion Is another adaptation to be able run over long distances. Life adaptation is about the organisms environments.
Humans are made of 70 % water. What’s so special about water for life? why is water such a crucial molecule and could there be other ingredients that also provide the perfect recipe for life on other planets?
It turns out that several chemical properties of water make it indispensable for living creatures. Not only can water dissolve nearly anything, but it is also one of only a few materials that can exist as solid, liquid and gas within a relatively narrow range of temperatures.
At heart, all life on Earth uses a membrane that separates the organism from its environment. To stay alive, the organism takes in important materials for making energy, while shuttling out toxic substances such as waste products.
In this regard, water is essential simply because it’s a liquid at Earth-like temperatures. Because it flows, water provides an efficient way to transfer substances from a cell to the cell’s environment.
The humble water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.
“The way they’re bonded together makes water this wonderful universal solvent,” meaning that almost every substance can dissolve in water.
That’s because the molecule has polarity, meaning the hydrogen atoms tend to bunch on one side of the molecule, creating a positive region, while the oxygen end has a negative charge.
The positive hydrogen end tends to attract negative ions (or atoms with an extra electron in the outer shell), while the negative region lures in positive ions (which have had one of their electrons stripped off).
Water, with its amazing dissolving properties, is the perfect medium for transmitting substances, such as phosphates or calcium ions, into and out of a cell.
The biggest causes of death in old age in the west is circulatory diseases and the other is cancer. What is circulatory disease?
Heart disease is the most frequent condition in older adults and the No. 1 cause of death. Heart failure, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation are common reasons for health visits and hospital stays.
Normal aging causes your heart and blood vessels to stiffen, which can lead to these conditions in later years. For people older than 75, high blood pressure is the most common heart condition. Coronary artery disease and heart failure are next.
Systolic blood pressure (the top number in your blood pressure reading) rises with age. Over a lifetime, 9 out of 10 individuals will have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Your peak heart rate also declines as you age because of changes in the ability of your heart to pace itself.
Also, your function and mobility decreases as your muscles weaken. Being active is the best way to slow loss of muscle and maintain your aerobic capacity. While many older adults remain independent, your ability to do moderate to strenuous activity declines unless you take action to preserve it.
So what’s the best way to extend one’s life or longevity? best way to boost the chance of living a long and active life is to follow the advice you likely heard from your parents: eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and stay away from bad habits.
Bad habits; smoking, excessive alcohol, being obese, no exercise, not enough sleep and loneliness. But most importantly drink plenty of life giving water!
Queen Elizabeth lost her beloved husband Prince Phillip last year in April 2021.
The Queen & Duke were married in 1947 which meant they were together as a couple for 75 years. The Queen was only 21 when she married Phillip. 75 year Is a long time in any personal relationship and suddenly after all that time the Queen loses her soul mate and confidante . I feel she died fairly soon after Phillips death because of the loss of her beloved and of a broken heart.
I noticed when she did her last Christmas Day speech it’s as if she’d shrivelled away in stature. She lost the reason to live and went down hill very quickly. Few partnerships are of that longevity. In fact partnership of that length the two individuals become as one.
I think privately the Queen was good fun liked a laugh and a joke Phillip was his own man and had a quirky sense of humour. Which the Queen probably loved. When she was in Westminster Abbey at Phillips memorial service she was stooped and looked like a poor lost soul. Sad ending to one’s life to lose a love one who has become your very existence, happiness and well being.
The Queen devoted her life to the monarchy and Philip devoted his life to the Queen. The Queen had great partner in Philip. Let their souls rest in everlasting peace. Amen.
Memento Mori
Kings & Queens are like the rest of us mortals eventually all die.