Cosmic Evolution, Life and Man

Abstract

A review, with 48 refs. Among the most basic problems confronting science are those regarding the origin of the universe, the origin of life and the origin of man. The first question is being studied by cosmologists and theor. physicists. Whether there is one, or an infinite no. of universes, is not the fundamental question, neither is the sequence of events beginning at "zero time" after the primordial explosion of a hydrogen-helium primeval "miniball". The real question is the reality-status of the universe before "zero time" which theorists say is not within the realm of cosmol. At any rate, given primordial hydrogen, the observational and exptl. studies demonstrate that all the biogenic and other elements of the periodic system can be generated by nuclear reactions. After hydrogen, the first nuclide formed is helium, or an alpha particle. The next most important thermonuclear reaction is the, so called, triple alpha process. This process which occurs in the interior of carbon stars at 100 million degrees is responsible for the nuclear formation of carbon. The synthesis of such a remarkable nuclide is a unique event without which the authors would not be able to talk about life on Earth. [on SciFinder (R)]