Eternal Life - the science of living forever

During science week in May, the ATNF, in conjunction with the Anglo Australian Observatory (AAO), mounted an exhibit as part of the Powerhouse Museum's exhibition, "Eternal Life - the science of living forever". It was held over four days from 13-16 May.

The ATNF/AAO exhibit was titled; "Limits to eternal life: how the universe will get you in the end". The theme of the exhibit was the cosmological limitations to the possibility of living forever. Four main ideas were explored - the end of the universe in either a "heat death" or "big crunch", massive asteroid impacts with the Earth, nearby supernova explosions, and cosmic rays as a hazard to future space travel.

Joeg Lippold (UNSW), Jessica Chapman (ATNF) and John Sarkissian (ATNF) at the Powerhouse museum.

A 67-kgm iron-nickel meteorite was displayed (courtesy of the Australian Museum) to emphasise the potential hazards posed by asteroid/comet impacts with the Earth. Visitors were encouraged to touch and attempt to lift the meteorite. It was a great hit with the visitors.

A Cloud Chamber (courtesy of Sydney University) was also displayed, to show visitors the tracks left by cosmic rays penetrating the atmosphere and the substantial Museum walls.

An interactive computer display allowed visitors to explore the themes at their leisure. This included video clips, audio files and images from David Malin etc.

For the younger visitors, a "Warps and Worm Holes" board game was used to teach the life history of the Universe from the Big Bang to the Heat Death. It emphasised cosmological hazards to life. Any event that was detrimental to life resulted in the player sliding down a worm hole backwards several places. Any event that was beneficial to life resulted in the player jumping forward several places at warp speed.

The exhibit was staffed by volunteers. John Sarkissian (ATNF) was there for the all four days, with help from Roberto De Propris (UNSW), Malte Marquarding (ATNF), Jessica Chapman (ATNF) and Joerg Lippold (UNSW).

The exhibits from other groups were just as interesting. They included an Egyptian Mummy to demonstrate how desires live on in the after life, a cryonics demonstration on how to freeze people and thaw them back to life, the recycling of life, DNA extraction workshops and lectures, and many more.

The Sunday of the exhibition was Mother's Day, and special events were organised around the Mummy display, with the day renamed as "Mummy's Day".

The exhibition was a great success, with the participants enjoying the opportunity to view astronomy from a different perspective.

Pictures of the event as well as an interactive computer display can be accessed on the Web at URL: http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/people/jsarkiss/eternal_life

John M. Sarkissian