U for Universe

We are a tiny dot in this vast universe. To think that we are the only intelligent being living in this life is sheer arrogance.

We are not sure how or why the Universe began.
Soon afterwards there was a big bang
which released radiation, particles and clouds of atoms.
Gravity condensed the atoms into galaxies where stars appeared.
Stars created new types of atoms when they
grew old and exploded as supernovae.

The new atoms were released back to the galaxy,
and joined together into cosmic dust and molecules.
New stars, such as the Sun,
formed from these materials in the spiral arms
and the dust and molecules formed planets such as Earth.
Life appeared on Earth (we are not sure how)
and soon evolved into bacteria (germs).

The evolution of life was played out
upon the moving stage formed by continental drift.

Single cells with a well-formed nucleus appeared
and plants such as algae and animals such as protozoa evolved.
These single cells began to live together in colonies
to form more complex algae and invertebrate animals.
Vertebrates such as fish appeared
about the same time as the plants began to live on land,
rapidly followed by the invertebrates.

Later vertebrates (amphibians) also evolved to live on land,
and reptiles dominated the land for millions of years.
Plants, insects and vertebrates evolved
into flowers, bees and mammals
all at about the same time.

People appeared very recently
and rapidly dominated and transformed the entire planet,
also learning how to leave it.

Computers are now being invented and have already
left the Earth and begun to explore the solar system.
They will soon begin to design themselves,
and so become independent of their human inventors.

There are vast resources in space and huge amounts of energy,
so computers will rapidly colonise this corner of the Galaxy.

The Sun will eventually burn up the Earth,
but by that time organic life will be largely irrelevant.

The Universe will probably end by cooling and expanding to almost empty space.
What do you think? I am not sure about some passages in this brief story of the Universe I found here but it’s a nice summary and good to tell the children.

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