Articles Awaiting

Thank you Professor Dr Ling Siew Ching for your interest. Give me time to think and write.

The following articles shall be written in stages within these two months - April and May  

1. The Mystery on the Chemistry of Life
2. Does Soul Exist (Part 1)
3. Does Souls Exist (Part 2)  
4. The Vast Knowledge of the Human Brain 
5. A Short Introduction on Microbiology of Medical Importance
6. Visibility of the Great Wall of China from the Moon (Part 2) 
7. How Modern Medicine was Hijacked for Profit (Part 1)
8. How Modern Medicine was Hijacked for Profit (Part 2) 
9. Summary on the Physics and Physiology of Falling from 10,000 Metres 

Thank you for your enquiry 

Meantime take care!

jb lim 

The Water of Life

 Scientists always believe that in order for life to exist, water is probably the most important ingredient needed.

 

We know that in order for us, animals, plants, and microorganisms to survive and flourish on this planet water is the key ingredient for life and for them to first evolve from the primordial oceans.

 

Astronomers and astrobiologists have been searching for life in our galaxy for evidence of life on other planets. They have been looking for water first, and other life-giving chemicals such as carbon and amino-acids among the planets as prerequisites for life to be possible in their space probes. But are these the chemical criteria for life to be possible or rather for physical forms of life to be possible?

 

According to Dr Anne Jungblut, a specialist in life living in extreme conditions, and Dr Paul Kenrick, a specialist on the early evolution of life, explain what they were looking for.

 

According to them as well as to all scientists, the processes to make life possible, there must be life-giving chemicals and water for chemical reactions to take place in a living body, and for water to break down those substances so these reactions can move and interact freely.

 

Liquid water is probably the only essential requirement for life on Earth because it functions as a solvent. It is efficient in dissolving substances to enable these biochemical reactions to take place in animals, plants and in the microbial cells.

 

The chemical and physical properties of water is to allow it to dissolve more substances than other liquids, as water is a universal solvent for most chemicals.  Other physical characteristics of water essential for life are its heat conducting ability, high boiling and melting points, and its capability to allow life-giving light to penetrate.

 

According to another scientist, he says 'As water plays such an essential role in life on Earth, the presence of water has been vital in the search of other habitable planets and moons'.

 

Many thousands of biomolecules are involved in the reactions with water for complex life to be made possible. Carbon-based life is only possible in the presence of water for the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that make up life. Hence, we conclude that physical life as we know it here on Earth is only possible in the presence of water.

 

The molecular structure of carbon allows its atoms to form long chains, with each other with two potential free bonds to join up with other atoms especially with oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen to make life organic compounds very complex.

 

Many of these free bonds in carbon can even join up with other carbon atoms to form complex rings and 3D molecular structures. These carbon bonds are strong and stable for building life-giving structures since carbon along with water are the most abundant substance on Earth on which all life is made possible. Hence, we assume that this hypothesis holds true for the entire Universe where life exists, or does it?

 

Although carbon is possibly the main component of organic compounds on which all life is based, other elements such as nitrogen on which complex proteins are based are also required for smaller units called amino acids. The synthesis of DNA and RNA, the carriers of the genetic code for life on Earth also requires nitrogen, not just water or carbon.

 

Microorganisms like bacteria convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into nitrogen compounds such as nitrates that is also essential for plants as nitrates are needed for their protein synthesis

 

Besides water and nitrogen, phosphorus is also essential for life as the element is needed for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the compound that drives the biochemical power and machinery of life.

Energy-rich phosphate bond in ATP is converted into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) in anaerobic respiration to yield energy to be converted back into ATP in the presence of oxygen.

ATP is a nucleoside triphosphate, containing a nitrogenous base (adenine), a ribose sugar, and three serially bonded phosphate groups. ATP is often referred to as an "energy currency" of the cell that provides readily releasable energy in the bond between the second and third phosphate groups.

 

In addition to its source of cellular energy, the breakdown of ATP through hydrolysis provides a broad spectrum of cellular functions such as in cellular signalling and in DNA /  RNA synthesis. ATP synthesis utilizes energy from multiple catabolic mechanisms, including cellular respiration, beta-oxidation, and ketosis.

 

This may be true in cellular chemistry where water is needed to drive the chemical reactions, but water is not needed in the life forces themselves existing in a living body that drive these biochemical reactions. In short, it is the life forces that are the master command to these chemistries of life, and life itself. 

 

Phosphorus is also another vibrant element in cell membranes that regulates the flow of substances in and out of cells besides being part of the DNA and RNA.

 

Besides water, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur that makes up the enzyme, hormones and vitamins is also essential for life. However, in the absence of oxygen and light, it is also possible to use sulphur as an energy source. Some bacteria called extremophiles can live without light and oxygen under severe environmental conditions such as in hydrothermal vents on ocean floors, frozen lakes, areas with high salinity and even in areas with high radio activities.

 

The question we need to ask is, if some of these life forms found here on Earth living under extreme conditions, would it be possible for other physical life forms found living under extreme conditions in other planets and other extra-terrestrial worlds?

  

Life on Earth took at least 4 billion years to evolve from single-celled organisms to complex life as we now know them. The age of the universe is 13.8 billion years, and the age of Earth is 4.543 billion years. The accretion of Earth took place 4,500 to 4,400 million years ago, after the atmosphere and oceans were formed 4,200 million years ago. It was only when the oceans where there was water, life became possible in the form of the first prebiotic chemistry.  That was 4,000 million years ago. Life was not possible in its earliest stages of Earth’s formation as it was too hot then.

 

The entire scenario of from the creation of the Universe till the early agriculture 12,000 years ago till the use of iron tools by humans is given here:

 

Creation of Heavens and the Universe:

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=age+of+universe

 

It is possible that life exists on other planets, but such life would have a lot of evolutionary process to catch up. It took complex life so long to form due to its complex genetic and biochemical systems.  Microorganisms with simple cells have to evolve first. According to one scientist, he says:

 

'To make tissues and organs, cells need to multiply, specialise in function, and co-operate. The evolution of these basic building blocks and their integration took time. Larger organisms require even more specialised and integrated cellular systems. The fossil record tells us that this took billions of years.' 

 

Having explained all that, especially the presence of water as the first requirement, scientists always assume that life elsewhere in the Universe is also the same as we know them here on Earth. So, they came up with the hypothesis that life in other worlds is only possible within the Goldilocks Zone, meaning a planet has to be like Earth to be just right from its Sun or their star from a distance that is not too hot, or not too cold for liquid water to exist on its surface?

 

Astronomers have been searching for planets within this hypothesis in the Goldilocks’s Zone for ages without success for the existence of (physical) life there. Not just light at the right distance, but also light and radiation of certain wavelengths that does not damage the DNA of life there. Here on Earth damaging ultraviolet light for instance from the Sun is screened off by the ozone. So, astronomers need to look for those other life-damaging conditions too, not just water, light and the right temperature.

 

Now the question that is troubling me as a scientist myself who is trained and familiar in astronomy, astrobiology, evolution of life on Earth, biology and zoology, medicine and other fields of life sciences, I have always asked myself, is it necessary that life has to be in the physical form to meet all these criteria for its existence throughout the Universe or at least in other nearby worlds that other scientists have been vainly trying in their Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) with their radio telescopes.

 

Frank Drake and his colleagues in 1961 even came out with unreliable guesses to look for life in other worlds using his equation that looks like this:

 

• R_∗ = 1 yr⁻¹ (1 star formed per year, on the average over the life of the galaxy; this was regarded as conservative)
• f_p = 0.2 to 0.5 (one fifth to one half of all stars formed will have planets)
• n_e = 1 to 5 (stars with planets will have between 1 and 5 planets capable of developing life)
• f_l = 1 (100% of these planets will develop life)
• f_i = 1 (100% of which will develop intelligent life)
• f_c = 0.1 to 0.2 (10–20% of which will be able to communicate)
• L = 1000 to 100,000,000 communicative civilizations (which will last somewhere between 1000 and 100,000,000 years)

Inserting the above minimum numbers into the equation gives a minimum N of 20 Inserting the maximum numbers gives a maximum of 50,000,000. Drake states that given the uncertainties, the original meeting concluded that N ≈ L, and there were probably between 1000 and 100,000,000 planets with civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy.

 

They assume all life elsewhere must satisfy all the same criteria for life as we know them here in this physical world, or is it?

 

The question that troubles me for a long time is, what about life that has no physical body but just pure life such as spiritual life existing and residing inside a physical body that does not require water such as a soul that leaves the physical body on death? If they exist, I don’t think such pure life tagged or trapped inside a physical body requires any water to exist. But that’s life to me, not a physical living body

 

See my arguments among others on this here:  

 

Read also the “The Mystery of Life”:

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=mystery+of+life

 

The Spark of Life:

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=spark+of+life

 

Jesus First Miracle:

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=jesus+first+miracle

 

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=does+soul+exist

 

We often read accounts of UFOs, presuming beings from other worlds visiting Earth. If they exist with strong possibilities they do -  from numerous reports of their sightings all over the world seen by people with different belief systems, religion, cultures, ethnicities, ages and genders. How did these “living beings” from other worlds travel vast chasms of interstellar spaces, distances of tens, hundreds or thousands of light years between stars to undertake those horrendously long journeys without food and water as we know them to arrive here on Earth? What about them?

 

If they are living creatures from other worlds, don’t they also require food and water during their unspeakably long journey between the stars? Yet they managed to arrive here without water or food in deep interstellar space. Give this a thought as I do.   

 

Furthermore, when all life on Earth is destroyed, and a new heaven and a new Earth is created with non-physical life existing there. It says there is “no more sea”, meaning there is no more water needed for spiritual life there as in Revelation 21:1?

 

But our life and all life on Earth is physical and all  require water as already explained above. Give this also another thought. It troubles me greatly unlike other scientists and the common man-in-the-street who only believes what scientists tell them. 

 

In summary, I don't think it is safe to assume that everything that happens or exists we know here in this world, applies to other worlds too, even in the nearest ones in the Milky Way Galaxy, let alone in the entire Universe spanning 93 billion light years across. 

 

For instance, we can easily calculate and measure the amount of energy output of the Sun, measure the distances to the stars using various methods such as measuring its parallax, using Cepheids variables, by observing the length  of their period and intrinsic luminosity, and use simple physics to calculate their distances. 

 

Astronomers can even tell the evolution and ages of the main sequence stars by looking at their luminosity in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.  As they grow older, their luminosity increases, and by knowing their mass, and their increase in luminosity we can tell  the ages of younger and older stars. 

 

We can tell a lot about the Universe, their origin and ultimate fate, how they work, their age, size, numbers of galaxies, make estimates of the number of stars in each galaxy...a 1000 and one thing we know, but we have not a clue if life even in their simplest form exist elsewhere other than our own. 

 

We don't even have an acceptable definition for life despite over 100 definitions being offered, let alone measure it. If we are so blind in knowing exactly what makes some organic molecules almost suddenly come alive, or tell ourselves exactly how life originated, how they were created, designed, or spontaneously evolved, then how are we going to know if other life elsewhere requires water in such horrendously vast cosmic oceans containing an estimated 100 trillion, trillion (1 followed by 26 zeros) other worlds - Earth we live in, is just one of them? 

 

We can only give ourselves a very deep thought on the mysteries of life!

 

jb lim 

ReplyForward Add reaction

Observing Astronomy Under Cloudy Skies : The Challenges

 

Last Saturday night, 29 March, 2025 I went to Kuala Selangor with my family to have dinner at a restaurant called Jeti (Jetty) Restaurant in Kuala Selangor.  After dinner we drove to another place called "Firefly Park Kuala Selangor" 9.8 km away to see fire flies along the banks of Selangor River. The fireflies, also called lightning bugs or glow worms or lampyridae, belong to a family of elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 species. 

It was a disappointment as there were just three or four bushes along the river banks where these lightning bugs emit their abdominal mating lights. This was in marked contrast with what I saw in the 1980s when I went there as a life member of the Malaysian Nature Society when the entire banks on both sides were flickering with lights by these insects.

 Anyway, the whole area was almost pitch dark which would have given me an opportunity to do some astronomy - an area I am more interested. But it was not. The sky above neither was dark nor clear. It was covered uniformly by a white sheet of darkened clouds spread out throughout the sky. There wasn't seen a single star above. This gave me a thought of writing a small article on conducting astronomy under a cloudy sky.

Star gazing under cloudy nights can be quite challenging, as clouds significantly obstruct our view of celestial objects. However, there are a few methods and tools astronomers and enthusiasts can use to maximize their observations even when the sky isn't completely clear. One of them is Infrared and Radio Astronomy.  While most amateur astronomers use visible light to observe celestial objects, professional astronomers often use infrared or radio telescopes, which can penetrate clouds better than visible light. However, these are typically not accessible to amateur astronomers due to their size, complexity, and cost.

Unfortunately, there isn't a specific filter that can be used to see stars through thick clouds, as most filters are designed to enhance contrast or block specific wavelengths of light rather than to allow visibility through thick clouds. However, if there are thin clouds or some breaks in the clouds, a light pollution filter might help enhance contrast against a cloudy sky.

Using a telescope with a camera is another way.  Some astro-photographers use long-exposure techniques to capture images of celestial objects. If there are brief moments where the clouds part, a camera attached to a telescope can sometimes get a shot of stars. Post-processing techniques can help bring out details in images captured under suboptimal conditions.

Observing through less dense clouds is possible.  Sometimes, thin or wispy clouds can allow for some visibility of celestial objects. In those instances, we might still be able to see bright stars or even planets. Using binoculars can sometimes help with this as well.

Satellite passes can often be seen. While this doesn't involve direct observation of celestial bodies, satellites such as the International Space Station (ISS) can be seen moving across the sky and often appear brightly even through thin clouds. I have often seen them. They move quite fast across the sky.  There are apps and websites that can help us find out when to watch for these events.

There are also live observations and online resources if skies are cloudy,  Many observatories offer live feeds or streaming events featuring telescopic views of celestial events, which can be accessed right from home. Websites and mobile apps might also provide real-time updates on celestial events. But this is not as good as actually seeing them in clear skies.

Even if we cannot see the stars, studying star maps, using a planisphere, or utilizing stargazing apps can help us learn the positions of celestial objects. This knowledge can be useful for planning future observations when the sky is clearer.

Unfortunately,  weather patterns are influenced by humidity and temperature, and it's a common phenomenon in tropical regions like Malaysia.

In the tropics, warm air holds more moisture, and when this humid air rises and cools (due to cooler temperatures at higher altitudes), it condenses into clouds. This often results in frequent cloud cover, especially during certain times of the year, such as the monsoon season.

Conversely, in many colder regions, especially in places like deserts, the air tends to be much drier and less humid. With lower humidity, there’s less moisture in the air to form clouds, leading to clearer skies. That’s why we often see vibrant night skies in those areas.

While cloudy weather can be a challenge for stargazing, it can also create interesting atmospheric conditions and beautiful cloud formations. Plus, tropical locations often have stunning natural landscapes and rich biodiversity, providing other opportunities for exploration and appreciation of nature.

If we ever find ourselves looking for ways to observe the night sky despite the clouds, consider looking for astronomy clubs, if any in Malaysia, or  the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur  that might sometimes offer access to telescopes or group viewing nights when conditions are better.

In summary, while there is no substitute for clear skies in astronomy, certain techniques and tools can help us maximize our observations during less-than-ideal conditions as in my case  in the firefly park in Kuala Selangor last night. 

 

My Personal Experience with Health-Care Among Humble Natives

 Some friends in my active WhatsApp group was sharing with me a video on the future medicine taken over by AI 

Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace humans ‘for most things'

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/26/bill-gates-on-ai-humans-wont-be-needed-for-most-things.html?__source=iosappshare%7Cnet.whatsapp.WhatsApp.ShareExtension

 Let me share in turn with you (not all are grateful and thankful) my previous working experience in health care. 

When I was working in IMR (Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) we used to conduct tens of hundreds of health surveys across the length and breath the country - into the villages and rural areas as well, sometimes deep inside the jungles where orang asli and natives live.

Our team would bring a mobile laboratory with us, including centrifuges and spectrophotometers for field work. We would make use of the government rural health clinics and place them there. Analysis of blood, urine and other biological samples would be analysed in the rural clinics, except for sophisticated analysis where we would packed them in ice and transport them to IMR    

During our examination these jungle natives will tell us the different plants in the jungles they use to treat themselves - anything from fevers, tumours to snake bites so effectively without problem. We, doctors, dentists, behavioural and biomedical scientists and other biomedical researchers, nurses and laboratory technologists in our large team would listen carefully and learn from the natives and 'primitive' people the different types of plants and their names they would use to treat themselves from different diseases..

Our team were multidisciplinary drawing the professional expertise from other areas  of specializations, such as medical anthropologists, nutritionists, dentists,  sociologists, behavioural scientists, a bio-statistician because we wanted our studies to be as holistic as possible since heath-care is not just the  domain of the medical doctor only. It is a holistic multi-disciplinary approach - see  the official definition of health by the World Health Organization 
"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" 

After we have examined them for the day, there would be several hours of learning sessions from the natives who would identify the plants and their medical uses for us. They were our mentors after that -  not us teaching or treating them. They hardly suffer all those diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and cholesterol problems like we do in the cities and urban areas.

It is a wonder how they manage to treat snakes bites in the jungles using medicinal plants to neutralize the snake  toxins such as neurotoxins that damages the nervous systems,  hemotoxins that damages the blood and blood vessels, cytotoxins from pit vipers that destroys cells and tissues, myotoxins that damages and disintegrates muscles and clotting mechanisms  and other haemotoxins and neurotoxins instead of using polyclonal antibodies, anti-snake venom injections or other immunotherapeutic to neutralize the venom toxins. 

Of course for tumours they may not necessarily be cancers. They may be benign tumours, but they can also be cancers, yet they treated themselves very effectively using jungle plants.  The entire jungle with millions of different types of natural medicine God gave them were their biggest pharmacy on Earth and all for free. These natives never left their natural Garden of Eden to look for pharmaceuticals and petroleum products introduced over a 100 years ago by the billionaire Rockefeller as medicines now prescribed by doctors in towns and cities. Most of these bare-footed natives were in excellent physical and mental health for sure as assessed by our highly qualified medical and psychological and behavioural  team from IMR and some from university hospitals who joined us. They don't suffer from any stress or stress -related chronic ills like us.

They don't even suffer from malaria even though when we take blood films from them to look for Plasmodium (malarial parasites or MP) all the samples were positive for MP. But they were not presented with symptoms of malaria such as fever, alternating with  chills, general malaise, headache, nauseas and vomiting, abdominal pains  

We know that malaria infection begins when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a person, the mosquitoes injects  Plasmodium parasites into the bloodstream. The MP undergoes several stages in their life cycles - from sporozoites to merozoites and gametocytes in the erythrocytes (red blood corpuscles), and during the merozoites stage they cause fever when the RBC burst. 

But these orang asli (natives) walk about very healthy showing completely no signs or symptoms of malaria. They seem to live happily in symbiosis with these malaria parasites in their blood - neither each troubling the other.  

According to the late Emeritus Professor Dr Mak Joon Wah who was the Head of the Malaria Division at IMR, he told me that when they found the orang asli with malarial parasites in their blood were walking about without symptoms of malaria, they decided to treat them with  chloroquine, ones of the antimalarial drugs. Six months later they went back to re-examine the community, and what they found was,  they came down with clinical malaria instead. This shows we must not interfere with Nature. These communities have been living very happily with MP in their blood in a symbiotic relationship with one and another. But once we interfere with this relationship the infective agent (MP) gets upset and attacks the host.. This is the same with many infectious and communicable like diseases  tuberculosis (TB) where there is multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). 

Other examples of drug-resistant infective agents are methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) just to name two examples among many others. 

Even other antimalarial drugs like quinine, amodiaquine, artemisinin derivatives like Artemether and Artesunate are beginning to show resistance to malaria. 

I believe this is part of adaptation for the survival of the fittest as part of evolution (Darwinism medicine) where I am familiar.

I think this is a lesson we need to learn using drugs to fight against Nature. I don't think we can ever win against the might of Nature. This is the weakness and setback of modern drug-based medicine. We have no permanent cure with any of our chronic lifestyle diseases using drugs, and neither can we win against communicable diseases where we encounter drug-resistant bacteria and other infective agents emerging 

As for lifestyle diseases. when the government relocated the orang asli into urban settlements most of them came down with all those  chronic disorders - diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, infectious disease like those affecting cities and urban dwellers - that were never there when they live with Nature in their jungles  

I believe that was how God came in to help them because they were so humble and lowly unlike us city dwellers who are too busy to think of God who could have guided us using natural plants as food and medicines as it was in the Garden of Eden. That's why our chronic diseases today could not be cured, but "controlled" and the patients asked to come back again for follow up in the next appointment for the same petroleum-derived "medicines"  to "cure". 

I feel very sorry for myself too, using my own medicine trying to 'cure' my own leg problem that was never "cured" by no less than 20 medical and surgical specialists who all treated me in vain. 

This is just to share my live experience using my own medicine. This is a  profound experience from my time as a medical researcher at IMR. My reflections on the wisdom of the orang asli and native communities in the jungles resonate deeply for me. It is truly humbling to realize that, despite their seemingly "primitive" lifestyle, they possess knowledge of nature's pharmacy far beyond what modern medicine has fully explored. Their ability to treat ailments, including venomous snake bites and tumours, using jungle plants is a testament to the intelligence and deep-rooted understanding they have of their natural environment.

My observation together with my team of doctors, medical, clinical and scientific colleagues have observed this and we have learnt much from these natives -  that they not only be able to treat themselves from all kinds of illnesses, but they also remain free from the chronic diseases plaguing urban dwellers - diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stress-related conditions - is eye-opening. It raises important questions about whether our modern medical system, heavily reliant on synthetic pharmaceuticals, has overlooked the healing power of natural medicine that God has provided in abundance.

 Perhaps their way of life, unburdened by industrialization, processed foods, and artificial chemicals, has shielded them from the diseases we now struggle to "control" rather than cure.
The way we observed this is God’s guidance to the humble and lowly, and this has profound meaning.  It makes one wonder whether true healing lies in simplicity, in harmony with nature, rather than in the complexity of modern pharmaceuticals driven by profit. The reality that chronic diseases are merely "managed" rather than cured raises valid concerns about whether medicine has, in some ways, deviated from its true purpose.

My own personal struggle with my chronic leg condition, despite seeing over 20 specialists, is heart-breaking. It highlights the limitations of even the most advanced medical knowledge when it comes to certain ailments. I truly empathize my own frustration and disappointment. It is a painful to experience first-hand the reality that modern medicine, despite all its advancements, still has gaps in understanding and treatment.

My story is not just a personal experience but also a powerful reflection on the state of modern healthcare. It reminds us that we should not dismiss traditional knowledge as "primitive" but instead learn from it.

 There is so much wisdom in nature that remains untapped. Perhaps one day, science will catch up with what the orang asli have known for centuries.

We learn the depth of wisdom of these humble people. Do you care to share the same?  

Adventures in Observational Astronomy : Deep Space Celestial Objects

In amateur astronomy, one of the most interesting objects to see using a pair of binocular on a clear dark night are the Messier objects (M objects). 

Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in his Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles  (Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters). Because Messier was interested only in finding comets, he created a list of those non-comet objects that frustrated his hunt for them. This list, which Messier created in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Méchain, is now known as the Messier catalogue. The Messier catalogue is one of the most famous lists of astronomical objects, and many objects on the list are still referenced by their Messier numbers. The catalogue includes most of the astronomical deep-sky objects that can be easily observed from Earth's Northern Hemisphere; many Messier objects are popular targets for amateur astronomers.

We have already written about deep space objects such as M objects Other M objects are M42 (Orion Nebula), M45 (Pleiades), open clusters like M44 (Beehive Cluster). All these deep space objects can be seen with the  naked eyes. So are binary stars such as binary stars like Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris) that are also naked eyes objects.

However, some deep space  objects like Albireo (Beta Cygni), open clusters like M67 require binoculars or a telescope for colour.

Open clusters like M67 and the dumbbell nebula  (M 27) require binoculars or a telescope. Although some of these objects can be seen with the naked eye, others require a telescope or a pair of binoculars to gather more light through the lens.

Their apparent brightness is measured by what we call  ‘apparent magnitude’ (m).  Its value depends on its intrinsic luminosity, its distance, and any extinction of the object's light caused by interstellar dust along the line of sight to the observer.  Compare this with absolute magnitude which is a measure of the celestial intrinsic (actual)  brightness, or how bright it would appear if it were located at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (approximately 32.6 light-years) from Earth.  

Unless stated otherwise, the word magnitude in astronomy usually refers to a celestial object's apparent magnitude. The magnitude scale likely dates to before the ancient Roman astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, whose star catalogue popularized the system by listing stars from 1st magnitude (brightest) to 6th magnitude (dimmest). The modern scale was mathematically defined to closely match this historical system by Norman Pogson in 1856.

Calculating Apparent Magnitude:

Since the apparent magnitude is a logarithmic measure of the brightness of an object as seen from Earth, this  can be calculated using the formula:

m = -2.5 log ₁₀ (F / F₀)

where:

m =  is the apparent magnitude,

F =  is the observed flux (brightness)  of the object

F₀ is the reference flux (zero magnitude flux)

log ₁₀ is the base of 10 logarithm

This formula is derived from the logarithmic scale used in astronomy, where a difference of 5 magnitudes corresponds to a factor of 100 in brightness.

The scale is reverse logarithmic, meaning, the brighter an object is, the lower its magnitude number. A difference of 1.0 in magnitude corresponds to the brightness ratio of, or1005 = about 2.512. For example, a magnitude 2.0 star is 2.512 times as bright as a magnitude 3.0 star, 6.31 times as magnitude 4.0, and 100 times at magnitude 7.0.

The brightest astronomical objects have negative apparent magnitudes, for example, Venus at −4.2 or Sirius at −1.46. The faintest stars visible with the naked eye on the darkest night have apparent magnitudes of about +6.5, though this varies depending on a person's eyesight and with altitude and atmospheric conditions. The apparent magnitudes of known objects range from the Sun at −26.832 to objects in deep Hubble Space Telescope images of magnitude +31.5.

Here are the approximate apparent magnitudes of various objects:

Sun: -26.83

Full Moon: -12.74

Venus: -4.6 to -3.8 (varies)

Mercury: -2.0 to +5.6 (varies)

Mars: -2.0 to +1.6 (varies)

Jupiter: -2.24

Saturn: +0.5 to +1.2 (varies)

Andromeda Galaxy: +3.4

The Andromeda galaxy for instance lies at a distance of about 2.537 million light-years away from Earth. This is approximately 24.7 million trillion kilometres away (2.537 million light-years × 9.461 trillion kilometres / light-year).

Despite that distance the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies, away from light pollution. It appears as a faint, smudgy patch of light in the sky. The apparent magnitude of the Andromeda Galaxy is approximately +3.4. This makes it relatively bright compared to many other objects in the night sky.

In Malaysia, which is near the equator, you can find the Andromeda Galaxy by facing towards the north-northwest. Here are the details to help you locate the Andromeda galaxy. Look towards the constellation Andromeda, specifically in the area between the constellations Cassiopeia and Pegasus. You can start by locating Cassiopeia, which forms a distinctive "W" shape.

 From Cassiopeia, you can draw an imaginary line towards the northwest and find Andromeda. The best months to view the Andromeda Galaxy are from October to January.

As you can see, the Andromeda Galaxy is considerably fainter than the Sun and the Moon, but brighter than most planets when they are at their best visibility.

Several deep-space objects can be seen with the naked eye or through binoculars. Here are a few categories and some examples once again :

Deep-space objects bright enough to be visible to the naked eye are:

Andromeda Galaxy (M31) – The closest major galaxy to the Milky Way, visible as a faint smudge in the Andromeda constellation.

1.      Orion Nebula (M42) – A bright star-forming region in the Orion constellation, easily visible with the naked eye as a fuzzy patch in Orion’s "sword."

2.      Pleiades (M45) – A beautiful open star cluster in Taurus, often mistaken for a small dipper.

3.      Beehive Cluster (M44, Praesepe) – An open star cluster in Cancer, appearing as a faint hazy patch.

4.      Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) – The largest and brightest globular cluster, visible from the Southern Hemisphere.

5.      Lagoon Nebula (M8) – A bright emission nebula in Sagittarius, visible under dark skies.

Deep-space objects visible through binoculars (7×50, 10×50, or 15×70) are:

1. Hercules Globular Cluster (M13) – A dense cluster of stars in the Hercules constellation.

2. Dumbbell Nebula (M27) – A planetary nebula in Vulpecula, appearing as a small, faint blob.

3. Ring Nebula (M57) – A tiny, doughnut-shaped nebula in Lyra, requiring steady hands to see clearly.

4. Triangulum Galaxy (M33) – A spiral galaxy, dim but visible in dark skies.

5. Wild Duck Cluster (M11) – A dense, compact open cluster in Scutum.

6. Swan Nebula (M17) – A nebula in Sagittarius, resembling the shape of a swan.

Most of these objects can be seen with the naked eye under good conditions, while others may require binoculars or a telescope to get a clearer view or to see details. My recommendation, a pair of 7 x 50 mm binoculars is probably the best. It has wider angle of view, brighter images due to its 50 mm objective light-gathering capacity, lighter in weight to hold up steadily for a longer time, and the images are less shaky due to its lower magnification. 

    

Hainanese Chinese Opera (Part 3)

 The Hainanese people too have their own traditional opera, known as Hainanese Opera (琼剧, Qióngjù). It is a unique form of Chinese opera that originates from Hainan Province, the southernmost island province of China. Like other regional operas, Hainanese opera blends singing, music, dance, and martial arts to tell stories based on historical events, folklore, and classical Chinese literature.

The origin and history of Hainanese opera dates back over 300 years, emerging during the Ming (1368–1644 AD) and Qing (1644–1912 AD) Dynasties. It evolved from Nanxi (南戏, Southern Opera) and incorporated influences from Yue Opera (粤剧, Cantonese Opera) and Qin Opera (秦腔, Shaanxi Opera). Over time, it developed into a distinctive performance art with its own music, dialect, and stylistic features.

During the 20th century, Hainanese opera spread beyond Hainan, particularly to Southeast Asia, where many Hainanese migrants settled in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The features of Hainanese Opera (琼剧, Qióngjù) are our language It is performed in Hainanese dialect (a branch of Min Chinese, similar to Hokkien but distinct). The Hainanese uses traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu (二胡), pipa (琵琶), gongs (锣), cymbals (钹), and drums (鼓). The performance style are expressive facial movements and gestures, acrobatic fighting scenes, similar to Peking opera and elaborate costumes with embroidery and bright colors. The makeup & symbolism is like other Chinese operas, facial makeup colours indicate different character traits such as red - loyalty, righteousness, black - integrity, and courage

White is deceitfulness, and cunning, gold/silver stands for deities or supernatural beings.

Our Hainanese story themes centres on historical dramas from the Tang, Song, and Ming Dynasties with folk legends and tales of famous heroes.

Hainanese opera are romantic and moral tales based on Confucian values.

But it has religious connection like Hokkien and Cantonese opera since Hainanese opera is often performed at temples during deity birthdays and Taoist/Buddhist festivals as a ritual offering to the gods.

Hainanese opera also has cultural significance -a symbol of Hainanese identity. A Hainanese opera is a cultural treasure for Hainanese communities worldwide. It preserves their dialect, history, and artistic traditions.

It is performed in Hainanese temples in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand where they host opera performances during religious festivals even though Hainanese opera has declined in popularity, but there are efforts to preserve it through cultural programs, stage performances, and even television adaptations.

Like other Chinese dialect groups, the Hainanese people worship a mix of Taoist, Buddhist, and folk deities. Some common gods and sages found in Hainanese temples include:

1. Mazu (媽祖, Māzǔ) – Goddess of the Sea, protector of sailors and fishermen.

2. Tudigong (土地公, Tǔdìgōng) – Earth God, protector of local communities.

3. Guandi (关帝, Guān Dì) – The deified warrior Guan Yu, symbolizing loyalty and righteousness.

4. Baosheng Dadi (保生大帝, Bǎoshēng Dàdì) – God of Medicine and Healing.

5. Xuantian Shangdi (玄天上帝, Xuántiān Shàngdì) – Supreme Emperor of the Northern Heavens, a Taoist deity.

6. Jiutian Xuannü (九天玄女, Jiǔtiān Xuánnǚ) – The Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven, a goddess of wisdom and magic.

7. 108 Brothers (一百零八兄弟, Yībǎi líng bā xiōngdì) – A unique group of deities worshiped in some Hainanese temples, believed to be historical warriors who became protectors of the people.

Since many Hainanese migrated to Malaysia and Singapore, they brought their opera traditions with them. In Malaysia, Hainanese opera is still performed during temple festivals, especially in places like Penang, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur.

In Singapore, efforts are being made to preserve Hainanese opera, with performances staged during cultural events.

Hainanese opera is a vibrant yet endangered art form, rich in history, music, and storytelling. Though not as famous as Peking or Cantonese opera, it remains a cherished part of Hainanese culture. 

Hainanese Opera in Malaysia:

Hainanese opera, known as 琼剧 (Qióngjù), has been an integral part of the Hainanese community in Malaysia, serving both as entertainment and a means of preserving cultural identity. Brought over by Hainanese immigrants during the late Qing Dynasty, this art form flourished in regions with significant Hainanese populations, such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

Historical Context:

In Malaysia, Hainanese opera was traditionally performed during religious festivals, temple celebrations, and community events. These performances often depicted stories from Chinese folklore, history, and mythology, reflecting the community's values and beliefs. Over time, while facing challenges from modernization and changing entertainment preferences, efforts have been made to preserve this cultural heritage.

Hainanese Deities in Malaysia:

Hainanese temples in Malaysia often venerate a unique set of deities, reflecting their cultural and regional origins:

1. Shui Wei Sheng Niang (水尾圣娘): Known as the "Goddess of the Waterfront," she is a prominent deity among the Hainanese, believed to protect those living near water bodies. Her worship is widespread among Hainanese communities globally, including Malaysia. 

Wikipedia+1Chinatownology+1

2. Mazu (妈祖): The "Goddess of the Sea," Mazu is revered by many Chinese communities, including the Hainanese, as the protector of sailors and fishermen.

3. 108 Brothers (一百零八兄弟): This group of deities, unique to Hainanese belief, consists of 108 sworn brothers who are venerated for their loyalty and righteousness.

Notable Hainanese Temples in Malaysia:

1. Penang Hainan Temple (Thean Ho Keong): Established around 1866, this temple was dedicated to Mazu. Later, it also enshrined Shui Wei Sheng Niang and the 108 Brothers, reflecting the Hainanese community's devotion. The temple has served as a religious and social center for over a century. 

2. Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur: Managed by the Hainanese community, this six-tiered temple is dedicated to Mazu (Thean Hou). The main prayer hall houses altars for Mazu, Shui Wei Sheng Niang, and Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy), showcasing the syncretic religious practices of the community. 

Preservation Efforts:

To ensure the survival of Hainanese opera in Malaysia, various initiatives have been undertaken:

Cultural Performances: Troupes continue to perform during temple festivals and cultural events, aiming to keep the tradition alive and introduce it to younger generations.

Educational Programs: Workshops and classes are organized to teach the intricacies of Hainanese opera, from performance techniques to the cultural significance of the stories portrayed.

Collaborations: Partnerships with cultural organizations and government bodies help in securing funding and platforms for performances, ensuring wider reach and appreciation.

These efforts highlight the community's dedication to preserving their intangible cultural heritage amidst a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

I mentioned in Part 1 when I was a small boy in the late 1950's there was a Buddhist temple called Lim Sz Chong Su Temple is also known as the 'Ma Zor Keng' in Batu Pahat, Johore that has a temple fair every year where there was a Chinese opera crowded with people watching who brought wooden boxes and crates and placed them all day long along the road (Jalan Fatimah) as their 'reserved seats'. Then the road was filled with hawkers selling all kinds of food. 

Surprisingly, this temple festival and their Hokkien opera is still being celebrated but now hardly anybody watching them. 

It's heart-warming for me to recall collections of the Lim Sz Chong Su Temple (also known as Ma Zor Keng or 天后宫妈祖庙) in Batu Pahat, Johor. This temple has been a cornerstone of the local community, preserving cultural and religious practices for decades.

Historically, the temple has hosted vibrant annual fairs featuring Chinese opera performances, attracting large crowds. Attendees would bring wooden boxes and crates to reserve their spots along Jalan Fatimah, creating a lively atmosphere filled with hawkers selling various foods.

Timing of the Temple Fair:

The temple is particularly bustling during the Lunar Chinese New Year's Eve, when devotees gather to be the first to place incense sticks at midnight, ushering in the New Year. However, specific information regarding the exact month or date of the annual temple fair with opera performances isn't readily available. Given the prominence of Mazu worship, it's plausible that significant celebrations occur on her birthday, the 23rd day of the third lunar month, which typically falls in April or May.

For precise information about the temple fair's timing, I have in the past reached out directly to the temple's administration. They have previously provided me in the  details on upcoming events and any changes in scheduling.

Current Status of Opera Performances:

While the tradition of hosting Chinese opera during temple fairs continues, audience numbers have dwindled in recent years. This decline mirrors broader trends where traditional art forms face challenges in attracting younger generations amidst modern entertainment options.

 Attending these events can offer a deeper connection to our heritage and support the preservation of traditional practices.

Sharing experiences and encouraging younger family members to participate can help sustain interest in these cultural traditions.

My personal anecdotes from the late 1950s highlight the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with the Lim Sz Chong Su Temple. By re-engaging with these traditions, we  can contribute to the enduring legacy of the Hainanese community in Malaysia.