Discussion Who/What were we BEFORE we were born?

[4everHeartBroken]

The original quote is, "we are made of star stuff."
- Carl Sagan, Cosmos

In a sense, we do come from stars. The elements that make up our bodies, such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and iron, were formed in the cores of stars through nuclear fusion (nuclear-synthesis). When these stars went supernovae, they scattered these elements which over time coalesced to form new stars, planets, and eventually, life. So, most of the building blocks of our bodies were indeed forged in stars.
However, the hydrogen in our bodies is not of stellar origin. Most of the hydrogen in the universe, including that in our bodies, was created during the Big Bang.

The bow gives life by ending life for another. Life itself supports life by ending life for another. (This is fundamentally true down to the laws of physics. Entropy is always increasing. In order to live, we consume and compete for energy. Carnivores eat herbivores. Herbivores eat photosynthesizers. Photosynthesizers eat energy from dying stars. Stars eat energy from disappearing atoms.)
This is a reference to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who is known for his belief that the nature of the universe is composed of the shifting balance between opposites. "Logos."

This is really opening my mind and helping me to understand life and death and the universe better. I really enjoy reading your responses. They are always so informative and so interesting. Thank you.

The original quote is, "we are made of star stuff."
- Carl Sagan, Cosmos

In a sense, we do come from stars. The elements that make up our bodies, such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and iron, were formed in the cores of stars through nuclear fusion (nuclear-synthesis). When these stars went supernovae, they scattered these elements which over time coalesced to form new stars, planets, and eventually, life. So, most of the building blocks of our bodies were indeed forged in stars.
However, the hydrogen in our bodies is not of stellar origin. Most of the hydrogen in the universe, including that in our bodies, was created during the Big Bang.

The bow gives life by ending life for another. Life itself supports life by ending life for another. (This is fundamentally true down to the laws of physics. Entropy is always increasing. In order to live, we consume and compete for energy. Carnivores eat herbivores. Herbivores eat photosynthesizers. Photosynthesizers eat energy from dying stars. Stars eat energy from disappearing atoms.)
This is a reference to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who is known for his belief that the nature of the universe is composed of the shifting balance between opposites. "Logos."

This is really opening my mind and helping me to understand life and death and the universe better. I really enjoy reading your responses. They are always so informative and so inThank you.

Edit: I started watching, Wisdom of Carl Sagan - Cosmos, and I can't stop watching it!

 

[DarkRange55]

Both energy and matter are unable to be created or destroyed. Allegedly. I hear that entropy and black holes can destroy these things though but I'm too stupid to understand more. I'm sure when we die, the energy just finds some other form to exist as whether it's in the dirt or in the flames of the ashes if we're cremated or some other method of burial.

This too.

>> What happens to information in a black hole if quantum mechanics says it can't be destroyed?
One of the hot topics in physics!

Consciousness fascinates me too. I used to believe in an eternal immaterial soul, but am now a physicalist. So consciousness is a physical emergent property of a functioning brain, sort of like the earth's magnetic field emerges from earth's core of motional molten iron. The magnetic field is largely invisible and seems separate from the earth, yet we know it doesn't arise or exist without a physical origin (molten iron).

Likewise, consciousness seems like it exists separate from the brain, but actually doesn't. Science says consciousness in a fetus arises around 30 weeks after conception, so before that we were nothing.

When we die (when the brain stem and thalamus cease to function) I believe consciousness may still last for some minutes but then dissipates, sort of like when a flame in a fireplace is quenched, heat may still linger in the room for a bit before it dissipates.

I do still, as a Christian, however, believe that there will be a (physical) resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns and restores/repairs the earth and universe after judgment day. Then my body, brain and consciousness will be resurrected and also enhanced to be immortal and without pain, sorrow, sin and death forever.

We can discuss carnage stages and embryonic development and say when does the neural tube and the neural crest form and what is the richness of neural activity and all these kind of things…

When we die (when the brain stem and thalamus cease to function) I believe consciousness may still last for some minutes but then dissipates, sort of like when a flame in a fireplace is quenched, heat may still linger in the room for a bit before it dissipates.
This is an interesting thought. Another analogy might be that when a lightbulb turns off there's an afterglow. A lingering halo-like effect. You're suggesting brain might also be like that. Its electromagnetic field remains charged just briefly after death. Circuits remain open.
The description, while greatly simplified, is reasonable. When neurons fire, they create tiny electrical currents the generate magnetic fields. This activity can be detected and measured using techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Some brain activity can continue for a few minutes after the heart stops. My understanding is there's currently no hard evidence backing the claim that consciousness continues before it dissipates but I am not sure.