| London: According to Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s leading scientists, aliens are out there – but instead of seeking them out, humanity should avoid any contact with them. Hawkin’s suggestions come in a new documentary series in which he reveals his latest thinking on some of the universe’s greatest mysteries, reports The Times. “To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational,” he said. “The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like.” As for the answer, he suggests, most of it will be the equivalent of microbes or simple animals – the sort of life that has dominated Earth for most of its history. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach.” Hawking, now 68, who is paralysed by motor neurone disease and has very limited powers of communication, concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.” |
Man who tried to turn his faeces into gold is jailed
Judge said it was an interesting experiment but doomed to failure
Thursday, 20 October 2011
A Northern Ireland man who tried to turn his own faeces into gold by putting it on an electric heater has been jailed for three months.
The bizarre experiment, carried out by Paul Moran, 30, caused around £3,000 worth of damage to his Housing Executive home in a block of flats at Derrin Park in Enniskillen in July.
Upon his release he will spend a further 12 months on licence.
Moran admitted arson and endangering the lives of others.
His Honour Judge McFarland told him: “Rather bizarrely you were attempting to make gold from human faeces and waste products.
“It was an interesting experiment to fulfil the alchemist’s dream, but wasn’t going to succeed.”
While outlining the circumstances of the case at Enniskillen Magistrates Court, prosecuting counsel Robin Steer, told those present that at 7.12pm on July 24 last year the Fire Brigade was called to Moran’s flat at Derrin Park in Cornagrade, Enniskillen.
A police officer who was at the scene overheard Moran tell someone he had put “fertiliser” on a heater.
Moran’s barrister, Des Fahy, agreed that the general circumstances of the case were bizarre. He said Moran was a man of considerable intellectual ability but there was a clear problem over the years relating to drug abuse.
The judge noted that Moran was now on anti-psychotic medication and agreed with the findings of a pre-sentence report, which said he did not pose “a significant risk of serious harm”.
The bizarre experiment, carried out by Paul Moran, 30, caused around £3,000 worth of damage to his Housing Executive home in a block of flats at Derrin Park in Enniskillen in July.
Upon his release he will spend a further 12 months on licence.
Moran admitted arson and endangering the lives of others.
His Honour Judge McFarland told him: “Rather bizarrely you were attempting to make gold from human faeces and waste products.
“It was an interesting experiment to fulfil the alchemist’s dream, but wasn’t going to succeed.”
While outlining the circumstances of the case at Enniskillen Magistrates Court, prosecuting counsel Robin Steer, told those present that at 7.12pm on July 24 last year the Fire Brigade was called to Moran’s flat at Derrin Park in Cornagrade, Enniskillen.
A police officer who was at the scene overheard Moran tell someone he had put “fertiliser” on a heater.
Moran’s barrister, Des Fahy, agreed that the general circumstances of the case were bizarre. He said Moran was a man of considerable intellectual ability but there was a clear problem over the years relating to drug abuse.
The judge noted that Moran was now on anti-psychotic medication and agreed with the findings of a pre-sentence report, which said he did not pose “a significant risk of serious harm”.
