The moon came closest to the earth last year. The astronomers have calculated that this was an eight year cycle. Our moon has tidal effects on the oceans. For this reason, there are more high tides on a full moon night. On the other hand, the astrologers predicted that this event will bring a mini apocalypse. Some believers may agree with the astrologers because of the tsunami in Japan, while science devotees would argue that the moon has no role in the cause of the earthquakes. When both scientists and astrologers were making the arguments, I was wondering what if moon came very close to earth. What if, the moon is pulled in by earth’s gravity and crashes on the earth.
A century ago, the genius behind alternating current, Nikola Tesla claimed that he had invented an oscillator popularly known as the earthquake machine. This device, when matched with the vibrations from the earth, could split the earth. His earthquake machine, it is claimed, was responsible to bring his lab building into pieces. The machine was so small that it could be fit in a pocket. MythBusters fans, if you remember, there was an episode where busters tested the Tesla’s claim. Although myth was busted that Tesla’s oscillator crashed the building; however, it did oscillate the bridge to some extent. Meanwhile, the idea of splitting the earth remained in my mind.
I had the glimpse of the future, not until this weekend, when I dreamed about the split earth. In my dream, I was watching the sky. Suddenly every one, not sure who all was there, started gasping at the image on the sky. I looked at their direction. I could see the second half of the planet rising on the horizon, just like the moon. I was able to identify the continents of Africa and Europe.
Next day, when I woke up I started inquiring about the border line. Whether Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere became two different planets? That is not possible. I saw the entire Africa. So, I brushed up some of my geology. Atlantic ocean has rift running from North to South on the ocean floor. Some part of this rift is visible clearly in the form of massive trenches and volcanoes in Iceland. Similarly, Pacific ocean also has a rift running from North to South but not as prominent as Atlantic ocean’s. My calculation was that when the moon hit the earth, the impact caused the division at these two rifts. So North and South Americas became one planet while the rest of the world second planet.
Like all dreams, it was not real. Although our world is split between the rich economies and the developing nations. We do see the effect of this economical split in the form of unrest in different parts of the world. The rich economies are trying to protect their assets by interfering in the developing world. The developing world is trying to brush off its age old notions and to stand up on its feet like a free world.
However, if the moon would crash into the earth, all forms of life will perish. I am assuming the result of the crash will be various shapes and sizes of rocks similar to the asteroids. These would still orbit the sun, but none would be able to carry on life as it is on the earth today. In million years, somehow, if a life does crawl up on any of the fragments left; it won’t be as intelligent as we are. I can only pray that we humans will use our intelligence to save the world physically and to stay in order economically. Until then, I will play “Dark Side of the Moon” from Pink Floyd….