Subjective Universe...

Since the early 20th century, the scientific view has been that we live in a subjective universe. Albert Einstein formulated his theory of relativity back then when experimental evidence showed that the speed of light remained constant as the Earth moved.

Einstein's theory posited that all observers will measure the speed of light at 186,000 miles per second, regardless of their speed or their direction. In order for this to hold, the measurement of time must not be objective in its own right; but subjective.

This point was proven later by two atomic clocks. The most accurate time devices available. When one is left stationary and the other speeding around the world, a discrepancy will arise. If time were objective, they would be the same. But time passes slower the faster one goes through Einstein's space-time...even though an observer of either clock would not have noticed it.

A subjective universe. No God's objective view. Perhaps. But this can be a very powerful enabler. You, along with everything else, are subjectively weaving the tapestry. It's a reflection of us all. The maxims "think globally, act locally" and "do unto others as you'd have done unto you" apply with added veracity.

Artificial...

A team of US scientists has taken the next step in synthetically reproducing the blueprint of life, DNA. The effort has involved five years of research in perfecting new methods and techniques. The team at the J. Craig Venter Institute envisions potential remedies for illness and global warming. This is considered the second step in a three-step process to create a synthetic organism. The final stage will attempt to create a form of bacteria based purely on the synthetic genome. Initially, the nucleonic material will be placed in an established cell.

Whereas the human genome has some 30,000 genes, the scientists are targeting a synthetic sequence of just 580 genes. Yet if autopoietic processes can be established our notions on life may have to adapt. The tag will be "artificial life". But just what is artificial? Artificial vs. Spontaneous. Shaped vs. Created.

Helen Wallace, a spokesperson for GeneWatch UK, while acknowledging the technical feat, noted we are some way away from artificial life. Yet what remains is a type of genetic engineering that has the potential in the future to allow humans to make much bigger genetic changes.