We also learned during this week that scientists at the Chandra observatory have discovered a galaxy 400 million light years away that has two black holes drifting towards each other. According to the astronomers, in millions of years they will merge with an eruption of energy and a burst of gravitational waves that could warp the very fabric of space. In another study, observations by the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based telescopes have detected a stellar black hole streaking across the Milky Way at about 250,000 miles an hour. A companion star is being dragged along and slowly devoured by the black hole. The astronomers said that an exploding star in the inner disk of the Milky Way might have created the stellar black hole. The black hole is 6,000 to 9,000 light years away, the researchers said.

The former are all dealing with macro-worlds. At the other end of the scale, we learned during the same week that scientists are getting ready to create a new life form from a minuscule organism that lives in the genital tracts of people. This organism may cause or contribute to some cases of urethritis, an inflammation of the urethra. The scientists will remove all genetic material from the organism, then synthesize an artificial string of genetic material, resembling a naturally occurring chromosome, that they hope will contain the minimum number of M. genitalium genes needed to sustain life. The artificial chromosome will be inserted into the hollowed-out cell, which will then be tested for its ability to survive and reproduce. It is hoped that this project will lead to a greater understanding of genomes. One possible use is to find a source that will create hydrogen for fuel cells. Another might be to clean fuel emissions. You see micro-worlds can also collide.

Finally, we learned during that week that a vaccine is being tested that promises to prevent cervical cancer in women. Predictions are that it may be ready in about 5 years. Wouldn't that be a blessing? Perhaps it will lead to the prevention of other forms of cancer. It is so important that we continue basic research that can lead to such wonderful products.

As we continue to develop new technologies, we must keep in mind that they can be used for good as well as evil purposes. This has always been true for new technology. However, this should not deter us from continuing to explore science, or to develop new technologies. It does again emphasize the importance of also working on the ethical considerations of these new phenomena. We need to use all rational means to try to discover what is best for our future progeny. I suppose the place to begin is with our own personal morality. The task before us is huge. Let us not shirk our duty to debate the ethics of human progress.