The Black Cloud

"The Black Cloud" is a science fiction novel written by astrophysicist Sir Fred Hoyle. Published in 1957, the book details the arrival of an enormous cloud of gas that enters the solar system and threatens to destroy most of the life on Earth by blocking the Sun's radiation.

Plot summary

In 1964, astrophysicists on earth become aware of an immense cloud of gas that enters the solar system. The cloud, moving to interpose itself between the sun and the earth, could wipe out most of the life on earth by blocking solar radiation and ending photosynthesis. A cadre of astronomers and other scientists is drawn together in Nortonstowe, England, to study the cloud and report to the British government about the consequences of its presence.

As the behaviour of the cloud proves to be impossible to predict scientifically, they come to the conclusion that it might be a life-form with a degree of intelligence. In an act of desperation, the scientists try to communicate with the cloud, which to their surprise, is actually successful. The cloud is revealed to be a super-organism, many times more intelligent, who in return is surprised to find intelligent life-forms on a solid planet.

At one point the astronomers ask the cloud what its life form believes to be their origin, it replies that they believe that they always existed. One of the astronomers says something like "Well! Wait till the Big Bang boys hear about this!". It seems that Hoyle could have been fantasising about a deus ex machina to disprove the Big Bang theory.

However due to an incident, the cloud decides unexpectedly to move on. Two of the scientists die in an attempt to learn the cloud's own language through visual signals, in order to gain further insights about the universe.

Possible Appearance in Reality

Using a computer model of molecular dynamics, an international team has discovered that, under the right conditions, particles of inorganic dust can become organized into helical structures. These structures can interact with one another in ways that are usually associated with organic compounds and with life. Not only do these helical strands interact in a counter-intuitive way in which like can attract like, but they also undergo changes that are normally associated with biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins, say the researchers. For example, they can divide to form two copies of the original structure. These new structures can also interact to induce changes in their neighbours. And they can even evolve into yet more structures as less stable ones break down, leaving behind only the fittest structures in the plasma. 'These complex, self-organized plasma structures exhibit all the necessary properties to qualify them as candidates for inorganic living matter,' said the lead researcher. 'They are autonomous, they reproduce and they evolve.'" The research, published in the "New Journal of Physics 2007", was carried out using a computer model of molecular dynamics. [ [http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1367-2630/9/8/263/njp7_8_263.html From plasma crystals and helical structures towards inorganic living matter] Institute of Physics. Retrieved on 2007-08-17]

Hoyle's scientific background

Though the presence of a sentient cloud of gas may seem unlikely, the story is grounded in hard science. [ [http://www.iop.org/News/news_25221.html "It might be life Jim...", physicists discover inorganic dust with life-like qualities"] . Institute of Physics. Retrieved on 2007-08-16] The detection of the cloud is described using physics equations, all of which are included in the book. Hoyle brought his experience and knowledge as the Director of the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society into the book. Hoyle was also responsible for the term Big Bang, though Hoyle himself did not believe the Big Bang theory. In an ironic plot twist that would foreshadow Hoyle's stance on panspermia, the cloud expresses surprise that intelligent life is capable of forming on planets.

Cultural references

*In the 1976 novel by Terry Pratchett, "The Dark Side of the Sun", a sentient planet, ocean and sun speculate about the existence of an intelligent gas cloud

Notes