Murray’s 60sec science of the day.
In this time of isolation, we have the opportunity to examine the world around us a little differently. I would ask when we look outside and see a tree, what do we see? A tree? Green, Brown, colourful flowers? … Think back to what we have learned about plants…. When I look at a tree I see a complex living thing made up of countless atoms held together with barely understood quantum forces. I see tiny nutrients being drawn up from the soil by a complex system of physics and chemical reactions, I see water molecules climbing perfectly designed passageways designed to use water’s inherent atomic attractions to draw the water up to the highest point gravity will allow only to have an amazing transpiration process in the leaves create a vacuum to draw the water up even further. I see light from the sun (that cosmic source of energy who’s energy flow can be traced back billions of years) become involved in even more complex photosynthetic being converted into chemical energy and sugars that form the basis of the global food chains. Not to mention the movement and conversion of water and CO2 into sugar building blocks allowing the plant to continue growing and us to breathe O2 (which becomes part of us … but that’s another story). In short, I see a plant not just as a plant but a wonderful perfectly adapted link between the universe and ourselves. ..But if its a weed its an evil soul-destroying blight on the universe and must be destroyed. (edited)