BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:The Path of Life from A to B: How Astronomy leads to Biology - Pro
 f. Monica M. Grady\, The Open University
DTSTART:20111124T131000Z
DTEND:20111124T140000Z
UID:TALK32961@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Edward Cackett
DESCRIPTION:Astronomical observations of star-formation regions show that 
 many young stellar objects are accompanied by dusty disks. These disks may
  evolve into planetary systems. The Sun\, the Earth and other planets\, al
 ong with asteroids\, comets and other minor Solar System bodies\nformed in
  this way from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust (the pre-solar nebula). 
 Gradual accretion of dust into proto-planetary bodies was accompanied by a
 ggregation\, collision\, break-up\, re-aggregation\, melting and different
 iation of material in a complex history of planetary build-up. The final t
 urbulent stages of Solar System formation were traced out by intense crate
 ring of the planets by asteroids and comets. The surface of the Earth was 
 inimical to life\, heated and melted during bombardment. It is probable th
 at during this period of the Earth's history\, an atmosphere built up and 
 was stripped away more than once\, in a cycle of increasing stability punc
 tured by episodes of bombardment. Gradually\, however\, the inner Solar Sy
 stem became more quiescent\; the Earth's surface cooled\; its atmosphere w
 as retained\; oceans formed and conditions were set to allow life to emerg
 e. This stage is the interface between the geological and biological histo
 ry of the Earth\, when simple molecules formed more complex systems\, whic
 h in turn became single-celled organisms.\n\nThe pathway from astronomy to
  biology can be traced through study of comets and meteorites\, primitive 
 bodies of dust and ice that survive from the earliest era of Solar System 
 formation.\n
LOCATION:Old Library\, Darwin College
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR