Atomic Grandeur

I have been thoroughly enjoying my latest reading: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. I have never been that into science, but this is a truly fascinating read. Bryson puts the "how did they figure that out?" behind such facts and theories as the size of the Earth, its distance from the sun, and its molten core in a completely accessible way. The whole book is peppered with interesting little tidbits about the scientists (and amateurs) that made these discoveries. For example, did you know that Dr. James Parkinson (after whom Parkinson's disease was named) was a socialist revolutionist who once won a natural history museum in a raffle??!

But in amongst all the scientific facts and concepts and anecdotes about their discoverers, Bryson has a real reverence for the miracle (and sheer improbability) of the existence of life on this planet. So far, I think I have been most affected by this one section in particular:

"Atoms, in short are very abundant. They are also fantastically durable. Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been a part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms - up to a billion for each of us, it has been suggested - probably once belonged to Shakespeare. A billion more each came from Buddha and Genghis Khan, and Beethoven, and any other historical figure you care to name."

Chew on that for awhile. :-) .... Crazy, huh?

By the way, Bryson goes on to note: "(The personages have to be historical, apparently, as it takes the atoms some decades to become thoroughly redistributed; however much you may wish it, you are not yet one with Elvis Presley.)"