The Miracle Molecule: Key to Life
Humans are 60-70% water. Losing just 4% of that water constitutes dehydration, while 15% means death. Other than pure survival, humans have exploited this resource and use it for many purposes: cleaning dishes, clothes, making electricity, even extracting oil from the ground. We have learned to control, utilize and redistribute water across the globe. But this relationship between water and life goes well beyond humans: there would be no life on Earth if water did not exist. Nothing could survive. Please watch the following video till 1:42 but feel free to watch the whole thing.
I could discuss its properties, polarity, structure, cohesion, solvents, buffers, how water helps hold DNA together, but instead, I want to take us on a trip, up there and deep below.
With the landing of the Mars rover Perseverance, this conversation can go beyond just Earth. Mars is covered in dried-up deltas and riverbanks but has been a barren wasteland for up to 4.1 billion years. That does not mean the miracle molecule isn't present or hasn't been before. Mars may have once had an ocean 100-1500 m deep. This water has since been absorbed into the planet's crust or lost to space after losing the atmosphere. That leaves 500 million years of Mars with an abundance of the miracle molecule. Life has only been on Earth for 3.7 billion years, but scientists think it took 800 million years from the planet's creation to the first lifeform. So, could Mars hold life, or could it have?
Traveling back the roughly 245 million kilometers to our planet, let's dive into an even greater unknown than space, the ocean. Aliens, history, art, language, life; can all be found and are yet to be discovered. The UN estimates 3 million shipwrecks are in the world's oceans, holding plenty of history's mysteries below its depths. But while we can fly a man to the moon, as we've done with 12 of them (yes, all men), only a handful more have been to the deepest part of the ocean, Challenger Deep. A man might have gone there first in 1960, but that didn't stop Kathryn Sullivan from being the first astronaut there in 2020. From the deepest depths, what about the highest peaks? Well, the ocean is home to the base of that volcano but is also home to the longest mountain range, stretching 65,000 km and is less mapped than the surface of Venus...or Mars. Let me offer you just one more piece of space-based trivia that blew my mind. The Pacific Ocean has a diameter over five times that of the moon!
Dolphins are a fascinating and intelligent species that many people already love. This incredible individual at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 20108 is an ambassador for the ocean and demonstrates both human impact, and kindness. Photo taken by me.
I would typically be the first to show you any of the 240,470 discovered species. If you have followed my blog, you will already know about one of my favorites, the green crab, and how I jumped at the first chance to introduce you. But this week, I'll let the documentaries show you instead because there is something else I still need to cover. While we may not be able to destroy water, we do seem to damage everything else that needs it. From oil spills to coral bleaching, pollution, plastic waste, overfishing, and animal cruelty, humans cause direct and indirect harm. Documentaries like Blackfish, A Plastic Ocean, Chasing Coral, and films like Dolphin Tale begin to open new dialogue and narratives. The dolphin above is the real life inspiration behind Dolphin Tale, and she lost her tale to a discarded crab trap. Scientists and activists alike have started the conversation, but now we have to listen. Water, the miracle molecule, necessary for life, yet we take it for granted. The miracle of life, yet life goes extinct while we watch and animals are harmed every day.
You can't tame the ocean, but you can join me ... and save it.
I tackled quite a large subject today...water... but I think it is important to understand the whole picture to appreciate it all that much more. This post is not the end of the conversation but just to “wet your feet” and introduce you or remind you of the wonder of water and the trouble we are in if things continue the way they have been. So I have compiled a short list of documentaries on Netflix and YouTube videos that I was inspired by. I hope if you haven’t seen some of them that you take the chance to watch even one and if you are already a fellow ocean lover, maybe you’ll find a new favorite! Let me know if you watch any and what you liked, learned, or enjoyed or if you have your own recommendations (water themed or not)!
Documentaries on Netflix:
A Plastic Ocean, Chasing Coral (also on YouTube), My Octopus Teacher, Mission Blue, 72 Dangerous Animals Australia, Alien World’s (Space/Fantasy themed)
Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
Blackfish (Amazon Prime Video/Hulu)
Water Brothers- Coral Reefs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmV5-W7Pjgg (23 min)
National Geographic- Best Ocean Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgqRfD5Mco0 (54 min)
David Attenborough- Marianas Trench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53igmq2ntKg (51 min)
Andrews, R. G. (2021). Where did Mar’s liquid water go? A new theory holds fresh clues. National Geographic. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/where-did-mars-liquid-water-go-new-theory-holds-fresh-clues?cmpid=int_org=ngp::int_mc=website::int_src=ngp::int_cmp=amp::int_add=amp_readtherest
Cooper. K. (2020). Kathy Sullivan: The woman who’s made history in sea and space. BBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53008948
Sargen, M. (2019). Biological Roles of Water: Why is water necessary for life? SITN Harvard University. Retrieved from: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/uncategorized/2019/biological-roles-of-water-why-is-water-necessary-for-life/
The Real World. (2020). 10 Unbelievable Facts About the Ocean. Trafalgar. Retrieved from: https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/10-unbelievable-facts-ocean/
The Water in You: Water and the Human Body. (n.d.) USGS. Retrieved from: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects