Units of Length

It was natural for humans to use their own dimensions as a basis to measure distances. Thus arose the inch, the width of a thumb; the span, the width of the palm of the hand with spread fingers; the foot, the length of a human foot; the cubit, the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger; the fathom, the distance between the two hands with outstretched arms; the pace, the distance between the two feet while walking; and so on.

This system of measurement has two problems. The first: that these lengths depend on each person. The second: that they are not simple multiples of one another. To solve the first problem, standard values ​​were introduced. To solve the second problem, some of the measurements were slightly modified. Thus, in England, the inch was approximated by one-twelfth of a foot. This introduced a third problem, because each country chose different standard values ​​and made approximations in its own way.

A new Goldilocks zone

We are familiar with the Goldilocks zone, considered necessary for the emergence of life in a planetary system. It is the region where the surface temperature of the planet allows for the existence of liquid water, which is generally considered essential for life as we know it, although in science fiction literature (remember Fred Hoyle's The Black Cloud) there are life forms that might not require this condition.

Planets very close to their star would have a temperature too high for the existence of liquid water; all the water would vaporize, and in some cases escape the planet's gravitational pull. On very distant planets, the temperature would be too low, and all the water would be in a solid state (ice). In both cases, it is thought that the emergence of life would not be possible.

The Death of Words

C.S. Lewis

In an article published on September 22, 1944, in The Spectator with the same title as this post, later included in the collection Of This and Other Worlds, C.S. Lewis pointed out that the meaning of many words evolves until they become mere synonyms for “good” or “bad,” and when this happens, the word is dead, because its original meaning is eventually forgotten, while the new one is useless, since the number of synonyms for “good” or “bad” continues to grow.

Lewis notes that many words, throughout history, have undergone this evolution, which transforms them from descriptive terms into insults or praises (synonyms for bad or good). He gives as examples villain, which from inhabitant of a village came to mean  a mean, evil, or unprincipled person (synonyms for bad); bastard, which from illegitimate child came to mean a person, especially one who is mean or unpleasant (another synonym for bad); or to say that someone is a gentleman, which initially referred to a profession or social category, and came to mean a man of good breeding, education, and polite manners (that is, a synonym for good).