I live on a small farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Although quite modest in size, it is agreeably balanced with some patches of woods and some gently rolling pasture. Thus there is enough variety so that, before she died, my wife, Mary, and I were never bored taking short walks to different parts of the farm.
One time, shortly before sunset, while we were walking just below a gradual rise in the pasture, I happened to look over at the setting sun as its rays grazed the broad crest of the rise and was amazed at what I saw. The sun’s rays had highlighted myriads of spider web strands that linked blades of pasture grass with a golden iridescence. The strands linking the grass blades pointed in every which direction so that the entire surface of the pasture was in effect covered with a soft gossamer blanket of spider web strands we never knew were there. It was a serendipitous glance at the vibrant mini-jungle that thrived right under our feet.
This experience set off a train of thought that in some indefinable way brought a sense of integration and completion to my view of the world around me. This was because, first, I realized that there was a still deeper realm of activity underlying this blanketing mini ecosystem. It was the micro world of the electromagnetically interacting atoms and molecules that are the fundamental ingredients of the spider web strands and the blades of grass. There was a ceaseless atomic activity “underneath” this blanket on which we were treading. Second, the sunlight that nourished the grass by photosynthesis and made it possible to observe this phenomenon was electromagnetic radiation from the sun’s intensely hot surface.
Thus in one cohesive realization I was able to sense the micro-world of atoms and molecules, the macro-world of the spider web blanket, and the cosmic world of the sun, each involving the electromagnetic force in one way or another. So this was an encompassing view of how, of the four forces of physical nature, it is the electromagnetic force that activates all of the nature around us. In fact, it has been harnessed throughout biologic evolution.
This evolution has depended on a multitude of electromagnetic quantum interactions, largely of exquisite sensitivity. They are put into service for the incessant probing, trial-and-error process of communicating, attracting, and repelling that has made possible each new level of chemical and biologic complexity. Indeed all of chemistry and biology depend on electromagnetic interactions. Atoms whose electrons orbit around the nucleus and molecules, however complex, that in turn bind together atoms, are activated by the electromagnetic force. It is highly complex electro-molecular activity that makes possible the life of the blood cells in our bodies and the neurons in our brains.
This wondrous activity is not only to be seen in the fecundity of the living nature that surrounds us, the plants, flowers, and trees, but also in the vibrant stasis of solid objects. It is the electromagnetic force along with certain quantum effects that empowers this stasis to keep the table lamp from falling through the table and the table from falling through the floor.
This pervasiveness of electromagnetism’s role in all of earthly nature extends to include virtually all of modern technology. Indeed the electromagnetic force is the work horse that in one way or another that powers almost all of the tools of modern living. It provides the electric power that runs our factories, lights our homes, and operates our washers and refrigerators. It is a wealth of often subtle electromagnetic interactions that activate the functioning of the computers and cell phones that are such an integral part of today’s life.
It is electromagnetic radiation that carries the messages of our cell phones as well as the signals that give us radio and television programs. Without the use of the properties of this radiation we would have no knowledge of the stars and galaxies in the cosmos. Astronomers have observed galaxies whose light took 13 billion years to arrive here. So, when we look out to the heavens, the entire history of the universe is spread out before our eyes, and it is electromagnetic radiation that tells the story.
However, whether I am reflecting on the world of atoms and molecules or the world of stars and galaxies, I always seem to have my most focused reaction to the encompassing nature of the electromagnetic force in April when I go outside and look at the deep pink blooms on the peach and almond trees as well as the blanketing whiteness of the plum trees. These trees are a source of joy and wonder to me. While I know intellectually that it is the electromagnetic activity that underlies the presence of the blooms and all of the surrounding nature and virtually all of the technology that keeps our world churning on, it is my wonder that abides.
L Fagg
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