E50 - Let There Be Light - The First Light in the Cosmos

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and enjoying friends and family. Sometimes the chaos of the holiday makes us forget this keystone feature of Thanksgiving. As I sat around the table with my family I became motivated me to share with you my thoughts, ideas, and practices regarding how I find gratitude in my life. I begin the episode outlining some wonderful and intriguing new research that has been published about gratitude. Next, we review the concepts around neuroplasticity and end with me sharing my gratitude list that of course is centered around science. This episode will make you think and can act as a jumping off point in finding more gratitude in your life.

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Each episode topic and details come about based on what is happening in my life or in the science of the moment. This episode I wanted to blend the current events surrounding LIGO discovering kilonovas, to the creation of the rarest elements to me giving a gold ring to my fiance (were engaged). Each event and moment of our lives is layered with awesome. Sure it is just a ring, but it is a ring that is now a symbol and it is created by a series of cosmic events that are to rare to turly comprehend. However, with a little time, curiosity, and science we can feel a whole new perspective regarding the complexity right under the surface of our day to day lives.

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The human experience is the best and worst of being you. Life is full of wonder and awe, tears and laughs, hugs and kiss. Nature is a constant state of change and chaos is the catalyst for change. Evolution is change, we are change, and change is everyday.

But in the end this life is something to enjoy and marvel at. Go out today and find others who are like you. Find a team of people and surround yourself with others who want you to be only you. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride.

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This episode discusses the how and why behind the human need to belong and find their tribe. This episode discusses how time and evolution play a role in creating the human condition. A condition that centers around our own duality - selfishness and selfishness. We are hardwired to belong, but we live in a world that is growing evermore exclusive and individualized. This episode will give you background into why you feel the way you feel about groups and why belonging to a group can help you reach a higher level of happiness. On a deeper level this episode allows us to think about the biggest group of them all - Human on Earth.

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The cosmos is vast. A vastness outside of human comprehension. The size, scale, composition and origin are wondrous and complex. Although we humans can not always comprehend the scope of things, that won't stop us from trying. The unknown and the unknowable are the key factors in what makes today great. Take a step back and ponder some of the ideas brought to light in these episodes. Internalize and let them fill you up. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride, knowing that you are a machine made of cosmic debris energized by starlight.

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Light is everything. We see because of light. We get energy from light. Daytime would not be daytime without light. The Sun is the fuel for life, but it took sometime for the Universe to evolution into these wonderful crucibles of stellar light and stellar nucleosynthesis that the twinkles in the sky are today. We just experienced daylight saving time so let us take a moment to appreciate light and all of the wonder it floods our lives with each day. It is the vision and the energy that fuel this creative world. You are stellar dust machines, energized by starlight. So enjoy the ride you Beautiful Dust Specks.

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Our world is a connected web of energy and energy flow. Where there is water and energy there is not just life, but ecology. Science has recently discovered how this even plays in region without the Sun. Each region of the world where energy is present has life and an entire ecosystem flourishing around it. This episode describes some of the webs and connections that can be found in a few unlikely places. By describing an understanding the intricate web of ecology, you will see and feel a new appreciation for the energy in your body. Feel the energy, obtain the energy, and express the energy.

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This episode allows the listeners to discover and marvel at the influence the Sun has on biology. The vast majority of life on Earth is energized by the Sun. We have learned in previous episodes that our bodies are made of stardust and now we can discuss how we are also energized by starlight. While also discussing how the Sun is the heat engine of our planet. It creates all of the wind, the rain, and ever changing weather. Ecology teaches us to appreciate the little creatures. Especially the ones who can do photosynthesis- create sugar from sunlight. Humans (heterotrophs) can not take light and turn it into sugar, but we can eat things who can or eat things that can eat the things that can turn light into sugar. These crazy food webs on our planet is what makes life tick and evolve. I do mean tick in the literal sense. All of the energy that motivates, moves, and is expressed with our bodies was once light created and emanated from the Sun. You are stellar dust, energized by stellar light.

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The Sun will rise again tomorrow and continue to do so for another 5,000,000,000,000 years. Each day the Sun converts crazy amounts of hydrogen into helium through the process of thermonuclear fusion giving us the by products of light and energy. Our lives are illuminated by our Sun. This daylight is also the catalyst for all biological energy on this planet. Let us take a little time to appreciate the Sun's origin story, it's past, present, and future. Let's dive into the crazy daily battle the Sun wages with gravity. In the end, you will get to know that wonderful crazy bright sphere in the sky a little better. After all, you are star dust energized by starlight.

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Each week a listener of the show will send me three words of their choosing. Three words that I piece together off the cuff and freestyle/rant/flow/talk/connect through the looking glass of science and life. Get a little fun motivation before the week starts. If you are interested in becoming part of the show please send me an MP3 to beautifuldustspecks@gmail.com... You will be a part of the show and a part of the fun.

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