Awake!, July 22, 1999
Awake! — July 22, 1999
Source: jw.org
Contents
Page Two
The World Is Growing Grayer
Live Longer and Feel Better
Can You Hope to Live Forever?
From a Squirt of Milk to a Spoonful of Powder
Fleet-Footed, Flightless, and Fascinating—The Ostrich
My Dog Hears for Me!
Why Is Mom So Sick?
What Lies Beyond the Planets?
Watching the World
From Our Readers
“Not Everyone Has Been Invited to the Party”
It Encouraged Him to Reread the Bible
Page Two
Page Two
How to Live Longer and Feel Better 3-13
The thought of growing old fills many people with concern, even fear. But there are things you can do that may allow you to stay healthy as you grow older.
Why Is Mom So Sick? 21
Seeing your parent become ill is frightening and painful. How can you cope?
What Lies Beyond the Planets? 24
Scientists have detected dozens of minor planets beyond Pluto. Are they the most distant objects in our solar system?
[Picture Credit Line on page 2]
Tony and Daphne Hallas/Astro Photo
The World Is Growing Grayer
The World Is Growing Grayer
IN 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León waded ashore on a stretch of unknown coast in North America. One report says that since the territory he found was covered with flowers, he named it Florida, meaning “Flowery” in Spanish. Finding a name was easy. Finding the object of his expedition—a spring of water with the power to restore youth to older people—proved to be impossible. After combing the land for months, the explorer ended his search for the legendary fountain of youth and sailed on.
Although fountains of youth remain as elusive today as in Ponce de León’s day, man seems to have discovered what author Betty Friedan called “the fountain of age.” She said this because of the dramatic increase in the number of old people around the globe. So many people are now reaching old age that the makeup of the world population is changing. The world is, in effect, graying.
“One of the Greatest Triumphs of Humanity”
Demographics tell the story. At the beginning of this century, even in the richest countries, life expectancy at birth was less than 50 years. Today, it has jumped to over 75. Likewise, in such developing countries as China, Honduras, Indonesia, and Vietnam, life expectancy at birth is 25 years longer than it was just four decades ago. Each month, one million people worldwide are reaching the age of 60. Surprisingly, not young people but those 80 years and older, the ‘oldest old,’ now form the fastest-growing population group on earth.
“The lengthening of life expectancy,” says demographer Eileen Crimmins in Science magazine, “has been one of the greatest triumphs of humanity.” The United Nations agrees, and to draw attention to this achievement, it has designated the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons.—See box on page 3.
Needed—A Change in Perception
This triumph, though, goes beyond a change in man’s life expectancy. It also includes a change in man’s perception of aging. True, the thought of getting old still fills many people with concern, even fear, because advanced age is usually associated with a frail body and a failing mind. However, researchers who study aging stress that getting old and getting sick are two different things. People differ considerably in the way they age. There is a difference, say researchers, between chronological age and biological age. (See the box “What Is Aging?”) In other words, getting older and going downhill do not necessarily go together.
In fact, as you age, you can take steps that improve the quality of your life. Granted, these measures will not make you younger, but they may allow you to stay healthy as you grow older. The next article considers some of these steps. Even if the subject of aging is presently not high on your list of important issues, you may want to read on, for before long it will be.
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THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS
“Having turned 60 myself . . . , I am now counted among the statistics I cited earlier,” said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently during the launching of the International Year of Older Persons. Mr. Annan has plenty of company. Researchers say that by the turn of this century, in many countries 1 out of every 5 people will be 60 or older. Some of them will be in need of care, but all of them will be in need of ways in which they can retain their independence, their dignity, and their productivity. To help policymakers meet the challenges created by this ‘demographic revolution’ and to get a better appreciation of “the value of old age in society,” the UN General Assembly decided in 1992 to designate 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. “Towards a Society of All Ages” is the theme of this special year.
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Kofi Annan
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UN photo
UN/DPI photo by Milton Grant
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WHAT IS AGING?
“The biological crystal ball is very cloudy when we come to aging,” says one researcher. “No one fully understands it,” states another. Even so, gerontologists (scientists who study aging) have attempted to define it. Simply put, they say, aging is the chronological time that someone has existed. But aging is more than the passing of years. One does not normally speak of an aging child because aging has a connotation of deterioration of vitality. Aging is the toll that the passing years take on an individual. Some people seem young for their chronological age. This is implied, for example, when an individual is told that he doesn’t “look his age.” To distinguish between chronological and biological aging, researchers usually describe biological aging (aging accompanied by harmful physical changes) as senescence.
Professor of zoology Steven N. Austad describes senescence as “the progressive deterioration of virtually every bodily function over time.” And Dr. Richard L. Sprott, of the National Institute on Aging, says that aging “is the slow deterioration of those portions of our systems that allow us to respond adequately to stresses.” Most experts agree, though, that coming up with a clear definition of aging remains a challenge. Molecular biologist Dr. John Medina explains why: “From head to toe, from proteins to DNA, from birth to death, untold battalions of processes unfold to create the aging of a 60-trillion-celled human.” Small wonder that many researchers conclude that aging is “the most complex of all biological problems”!
Live Longer and Feel Better
Live Longer and Feel Better
IMAGINE that human life is a long hurdle race—a race in which runners jump over obstacles. All runners start the race together; but as they jump over and occasionally hit the obstacles, the runners slow down, and more and more drop out.
Similarly, human life has a starting point and high hurdles along the way. During his life man encounters one hurdle after another. Each jump makes him weaker, and in time, he gives up. The higher the hurdles, the sooner he drops out, or dies. If one lives in the developed world, the drop-out point comes at about 75 years of age. This time period is called the average human life span—comparable to the distance most runners actually go.a (Compare Psalm 90:10.) Some people, though, run on longer, and a few even reach what is thought to be the maximum human life span, 115 to 120 years—a feat rare enough to make world headline news.
Identifying the Hurdles
People can now stay in the race almost twice as long as they could at the beginning of this century. Why? Basically because man has been able to lower the hurdles. What, though, are these hurdles? And can they be pushed even lower?
A public-health expert of the World Health Organization (WHO) explained that some of the main hurdles, or factors, affecting man’s life expectancy are habits, environment, and medical care.b Thus, the sounder your habits, the healthier your environment, and the better your medical care, the lower those hurdles are and the longer your life may last. Although people’s circumstances vary greatly, virtually everyone—from a bank director in Sydney to a street vendor in São Paulo—can do something to lower the hurdles in his or her life. How?
Habits That Affect Your Track Record
“Not only do persons with better health habits survive longer, but in such persons, disability is postponed and compressed into fewer years at the end of life,” reports The New England Journal of Medicine. Indeed, the first hurdle can be lowered by changing such habits as eating, drinking, sleeping, smoking, and exercise. Consider, for example, exercise habits.
Physical-exercise habits. Moderate physical exercise goes a long way. (See the box “How Much and What Kind of Exercise?”) Studies show that simple exercises in and around the home help the elderly, including the ‘oldest old,’ to regain strength and vitality. For instance, one group of older people ranging from 72 to 98 years of age found that they could walk faster and climb stairs more easily after doing some weight-lifting exercises for just ten weeks. And no wonder! Tests taken after the exercise program showed that the participants’ muscle strength had more than doubled. Another group, made up of mostly sedentary women up to 70 years of age, exercised twice a week. After a year, they had gained in muscle mass, as well as in strength, balance, and bone density. “When we started, we were afraid we’d rip ligaments, pop tendons, tear muscles,” said physiologist Miriam Nelson, who conducted the studies. “But all we got was stronger, healthier people.”
Summarizing the results of several scientific studies on aging and exercise, one textbook states: “Exercise slows the process of aging, prolongs life, and reduces the period of dependency that most often precedes death.”
Mental-exercise habits. The adage “Use it or lose it” seems to apply not merely to the muscles but also to the mind. Although aging is accompanied by some forgetfulness, studies conducted by the U.S. National Institute on Aging show that an older brain remains flexible enough to handle the effects of aging. Hence, professor of neurology Dr. Antonio R. Damasio concludes: “Older people can continue to have extremely rich and healthy mental lives.” What accounts for the continuing flexibility of older brains?
The brain consists of 100 billion brain cells, or neurons, and trillions of connections between them. These connections act like telephone lines enabling neurons to “talk” to one another to create, among other things, memory. As the brain ages, neurons die. (See the box “A New Look at Brain Cells.”) Yet, older brains are able to compensate for neuron losses. Whenever a neuron falls silent, its neighbors respond by making new connections to other neurons and taking on the work load of the lost neuron. That way, the brain actually shifts responsibility for a given task from one region to another. Therefore, many older people accomplish the same mental tasks as younger people, but they may use different parts of the brain to do so. In some respects, an older brain acts a bit like an older tennis player who compensates for his dwindling speed by resorting to skills that younger players may lack. Yet, despite using techniques different from those of his juniors, the older player still scores.
What can older persons do to keep up the score? After studying more than 1,000 people between 70 and 80 years of age, gerontology researcher Dr. Marilyn Albert found that mental exercise is one of the factors that determines which older people hang on to their intellectual prowess. (See the box “Keeping the Mind Flexible.”) Mental exercise keeps the brain’s ‘telephone lines’ alive. On the other hand, say experts, mental decline starts “when people retire, decide to take things easy, and say they don’t have to keep up with the world anymore.”—Inside the Brain.
So the good news is, explains gerontologist Dr. Jack Rowe, that “factors under our control or which we can modify should enhance our capacity to have a successful old age.” Moreover, it is never too late to start forming good habits. “Even if you have had bad health habits most of your life and you change in the later years,” says a researcher, “you should still reap at least some of the rewards of a healthy lifestyle.”
Environment Makes a Difference
If a girl born today in London were to be transported back to London of the Middle Ages, her life expectancy would be less than half what it is today. That difference would be caused, not by a sudden change in the physical condition of the girl, but rather by an abrupt change in the height of two more hurdles—environment and medical care. First, consider environment.
Physical environment. In the past, man’s physical environment—his home, for instance—was a towering health hazard. During recent decades, however, the dangers caused by physical environment have been lessened. Better sanitation, safer water, and a reduction in vermin in the home have improved man’s environment, bolstered his health, and extended his life. As a result, in many parts of the world, man is now able to go a longer distance.c Yet, lowering this hurdle involves more than installing indoor plumbing. It also calls for maintaining a healthy social and religious environment.
Social environment. Your social environment is made up of people—the ones with whom you live, work, eat, worship, and play. Your physical environment improves when you have access to safe water; similarly, your social environment may improve when you have access to valued companions, to name one prime factor. Being able to share your joys and sorrows, dreams and frustrations, with other people lowers the height of the environmental hurdle and helps you to run a longer course.
The reverse, however, is also true. A lack of companionship may cause loneliness and social death. You tend to wither if you exist without receiving expressions of care from the people around you. One woman living in a home for the elderly wrote to an acquaintance: “I am 82 years old and I have been here at the home for 16 long years. They treat us well, but the loneliness is sometimes hard to bear.” Sadly, this woman’s condition is typical of that of many older ones, especially in the Western world. They often live in a social environment that tolerates but hardly appreciates them. As a consequence, “loneliness is one of the major conditions that constantly threaten the well-being of the elderly in the developed world,” says James Calleja, of the International Institute on Ageing.
True, you may not be able to remove the circumstances that make you vulnerable to loneliness—such as forced retirement, declining mobility, the loss of longtime friends, or the death of a spouse—but you can still take some steps to lower this hurdle to a manageable height. For starters, keep in mind that feeling lonely is not caused by old age; some young people feel lonely as well. Being old is not the cause of the problem—being socially isolated is. What can you do to fight slipping into isolation?
“Make it pleasant for people to be with you,” advises an older widow. “Few people enjoy associating with a grouchy person. You need to put forth the effort to be cheerful. That takes energy, it’s true, but the energy you invest gives returns. Kindness begets kindness.” She adds: “To make sure that I have some topics of conversation in common with the people I meet, young or old, I try to keep up with the present by reading informative magazines and following the news.”
Here are some other suggestions: Learn to be interested in what other people like. Ask questions. To the extent possible, be generous. If you lack material goods, you can give of yourself; there is happiness in giving. Write letters. Take up a hobby. Accept invitations to visit other people or to go out with them. Keep your home cheerful and inviting for visitors. Reach out to people in need and offer help.
Religious environment. A growing body of evidence suggests that religious activities help older people to find “meaningfulness and significance in life” and to experience “happiness,” “a sense of usefulness,” “greater life satisfaction,” and “a sense of community and well-being.” Why? The book Later Life—The Realities of Aging explains: “Religious faith provides people with a philosophy of life as well as a series of attitudes, values, and beliefs that help them interpret and understand the world around them.” In addition, religious activities bring older people in contact with other people and thus “reduce the possibility of social isolation and loneliness.”
For Louise and Evelyn, both widows 80 years of age and members of a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, these studies merely confirm what they have known for decades. “At our Kingdom Hall,d I enjoy talking to others, old and young,” says Louise. “The meetings are educational. When associating after the meetings, we have some good laughs too. It’s a cheerful time.” Evelyn also benefits from her religious activities. “Going out to talk with the people in my neighborhood about the Bible,” she says, “keeps me from becoming isolated. But more than that, it makes me happy. Helping others to get to know the real meaning of life is satisfying work.”
Clearly, Louise and Evelyn have a purpose in life. The resulting feelings of well-being they experience lower the second hurdle—environment—and help them to stay on course.—Compare Psalm 92:13, 14.
Available—Low-Cost Medical Care With High Cure Rates
Advances in medical science in this century have lowered the third hurdle, medical care, dramatically—but not globally. In several poor countries, notes The World Health Report 1998, “life expectancy actually decreased between 1975-1995.” The director-general of WHO commented that “3 out of 4 people in the least developed countries today are dying before the age of 50—the global life expectancy figure of half a century ago.”
Even so, a growing number of older and younger people in poor countries are lowering this hurdle by making use of health care that is available and affordable. Take, as an example, a new approach in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).
Worldwide, TB kills more people than AIDS, malaria, and tropical diseases combined—8,000 each day. Of every 100 TB patients, 95 live in the world’s developing countries. Some 20 million people now suffer from active TB, and some 30 million could die from it in the next ten years, a number equal to the combined populations of Bolivia, Cambodia, and Malawi.
No wonder WHO was pleased to announce in 1997 that it had developed a strategy to cure TB in six months without the need of hospitalization or high-tech medical care. “For the first time,” noted The TB Treatment Observer, a WHO publication, “the world has proven tools and strategies to reverse the TB epidemic not only in wealthy countries, but in the world’s poorest countries as well.” This strategy—described by some as “the biggest health breakthrough of this decade”—is called DOTS.e
Although the cost of this strategy is much less than that of conventional TB treatments, the results are promising, especially for those living in developing countries. “No other TB control strategy has consistently demonstrated such high cure rates,” says Dr. Arata Kochi, director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “DOTS produces cure rates as high as 95 percent, even in the poorest of countries.” By the end of 1997, the DOTS strategy had been adopted in 89 countries. Today that number has risen to 96. WHO hopes this strategy will reach many more millions of poor people in the least developed countries, thus enabling them to lower the third hurdle in the race of life.
By changing his habits, enhancing his environment, and improving his medical care, man has indeed been able to extend his average life span and life expectancy. The question is, Will it be possible one day for man to extend the maximum human life span as well—perhaps even to live without a finish line?
[Footnotes]
Although the terms “life expectancy” and “average life span” are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. “Life expectancy” refers to the number of years an individual can expect to live, while “average life span” refers to the average number of years that members of a population actually live. Thus, life-expectancy estimates are based on average life spans.
In addition to these malleable factors, man’s fixed, inherited genetic makeup obviously affects his health and the length of his life. This will be discussed in the next article.
For more information on how to improve the home environment by simple measures, see the articles “Meeting the Challenge of Cleanliness” and “What Shapes Your Health—What You Can Do,” in Awake! issues of September 22, 1988, and April 8, 1995.
The location where Jehovah’s Witnesses hold their weekly meetings is called a Kingdom Hall. These meetings are open to the public, and no collections are taken.
DOTS is an acronym for directly observed treatment, short-course. For more information about the DOTS strategy, see the article “A New Defense in the Fight Against Tuberculosis,” in the Awake! of May 22, 1999.
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HOW MUCH AND WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE?
“Thirty minutes of moderate activity each day is a good goal,” says the National Institute on Aging (NIA). But you don’t have to exercise for 30 minutes all at once. Doing exercises for three short sessions of 10 minutes each is said to have the same benefits as doing the same type of exercises in one session of 30 minutes. What kind of exercise can you do? The NIA booklet Don’t Take It Easy: Exercise! recommends: “Short bursts of activity, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking instead of driving, can add up to 30 minutes of exercise a day. Raking leaves, playing actively with children, gardening, and even doing household chores can all be done in a way that count toward your daily total.” Of course, it is wise to consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.
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Moderate physical activity can help the elderly to regain strength and vitality
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KEEPING THE MIND FLEXIBLE
Scientific studies involving thousands of older people found several factors that help to keep an older mind flexible. They include “active engagement in reading, travel, cultural events, education, clubs, and professional associations.” “Do as many different things as possible.” “Keep your job. Don’t retire.” “Turn off the TV.” “Take a course in something.” It is believed that such activities not only lift the spirit but also rewire the brain.
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Mental exercise helps keep the mind flexible
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HEALTH TIPS FOR THE AGING
The National Institute on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says that “the chances of staying healthy and living a long time can be improved” by following levelheaded advice, such as the following:
● Eat a balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables.
● If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.
● Don’t smoke. It’s never too late to quit.
● Exercise regularly. Check with a doctor before starting an exercise program.
● Stay in contact with family and friends.
● Stay active through work, play, and community.
● Keep a positive attitude toward life.
● Do things that make you happy.
● Get regular health checkups.
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A NEW LOOK AT BRAIN CELLS
“We used to think that you lost brain cells every day of your life everywhere in the brain,” says Dr. Marilyn Albert, a professor of psychiatry and neurology. “That’s just not so—you do have some loss with healthy aging, but not so dramatic, and in very selective brain areas.” Moreover, recent findings suggest that even the long-held conviction that humans cannot grow new brain cells is, at the very least, “far too sweeping,” reports Scientific American of November 1998. Neuroscientists say that they have now collected evidence that even elderly people “do create additional neurons by the hundreds.”
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OLDER AND WISER?
“Is there not wisdom among the aged and understanding in length of days?” the Bible asks. (Job 12:12) What is the answer? Researchers studied older people to measure such qualities as “insight, sound judgment, perspective and the ability to weigh conflicting values and generate good problem-solving strategies.” According to U.S.News & World Report, the study showed that “older people consistently outshine younger people on all measures of wisdom, offering more-thoughtful, sophisticated advice.” Studies also show that “although it often takes older people longer than youngsters to make a decision, it is usually a better one.” Thus, as the Bible book of Job suggests, age is, indeed, sage.
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Human life is like a race full of hurdles
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“Make it pleasant for people to be with you,” advises a widow
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“Helping others to get to know the real meaning of life is satisfying work.”—Evelyn
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“At our Kingdom Hall, I enjoy talking to others, old and young.”—Louise
Can You Hope to Live Forever?
Can You Hope to Live Forever?
“THERE’S something going on inside the human body to determine a maximum possible life-span of 115 to 120 years,” notes Dr. James R. Smith, a professor of cell biology. “There’s a limit—but we have no idea what defines it.” Biologist Dr. Roger Gosden says that it is, therefore, no wonder that “scientists have yet to find a way of putting back the finish line, and few of them even contemplate it.” Is that about to change?
Facing “the Really Big Question”
Although there is no shortage of theories promising a cure for aging, most experts agree with Dr. Gene D. Cohen, president of the Gerontological Society of America, that “all these magic bullets have turned out to be blanks.” Why? For one thing, says science writer Nancy Shute, in U.S.News & World Report, “no one yet knows what causes aging and its inevitable consequence, death. And applying a cure to the ailment when you don’t know the cause is haphazard at best.” Dr. Gosden too states that aging remains an enigma: “It is expressed in each one of us but its underlying nature remains a mystery.” He notes that “the really big question of why it occurs at all” gets little attention.a
Evidently, just as there is a limit to how fast humans can run, how high they can jump, and how deep they can dive, there is also a limit to how much can be explained through human thinking and reason alone. And answering “the really big question of why” is apparently beyond that limit. Therefore, the only way to find the answer is to turn to a source that is above the limits of unaided human knowledge. That is exactly what an ancient book of wisdom, the Bible, suggests that you do. Speaking about the Creator, “the source of life,” the Bible assures us: “If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you.” (Psalm 36:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2) What, then, does a search of God’s Word, the Bible, reveal about the real reason why man dies?
The Root Cause of Death
The Bible tells us that when God created the first humans, he put “a sense of eternity in their hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, Beck) However, the Creator gave man’s first parents more than a desire to live forever; he also gave them the opportunity to do so. They were created with a perfect body and mind, and they enjoyed living in a peaceful environment. The Creator purposed that these first humans live forever and that in time the earth be filled with their perfect offspring.—Genesis 1:28; 2:15.
Life without a finish line was, however, conditional. It depended upon obedience to God. If Adam disobeyed God, he would “positively die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17) Tragically, the first humans did disobey. (Genesis 3:1-6) In doing so, they became sinners, for “sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4) As a result, they no longer had the prospect of eternal life, for “the wages sin pays is death.” (Romans 6:23) Therefore, when pronouncing sentence upon the first humans, God said: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.”—Genesis 3:19.
Thus, after the first humans sinned, the foretold effect of sin was etched in their genes, and the finish line was put into place. As a consequence, they became subject to aging, with death as the result. In addition, after being expelled from their original Paradise home, called Eden, the first humans faced another factor that influenced their lives adversely—the hurdlelike environment outside Eden. (Genesis 3:16-19, 23, 24) This interplay of flawed heredity and harsh environment affected the first humans and their future offspring as well.
A Sentence and a Promise
Since these harmful changes in their lives occurred before the first humans produced children, they could only bring forth offspring that were like them—imperfect, sinful, and subject to the process of aging. “Death spread to all men because they had all sinned,” says the Bible. (Romans 5:12; compare Psalm 51:5.) “We carry our own death warrants written in our cell structure,” observes the book The Body Machine—Your Health in Perspective.
This, however, does not mean that there is no hope for life without a finish line—life without aging and death. First, it is reasonable to believe that the all-wise Creator of human life and other forms of life in all their awesome varieties can heal any genetic irregularities and supply the energy needed to continue man’s life forever. Second, this is exactly what the Creator has promised to do. After he imposed the death sentence on the first humans, God revealed several times that his purpose for humans to live forever on earth had not changed. For instance, he gives the assurance: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Psalm 37:29) What do you need to do to experience the fulfillment of this promise?
How to Extend Your Life—Forever
Interestingly, after science writer Ronald Kotulak had interviewed more than 300 medical researchers, he stated: “Scientists have long known that income, occupation, and education are the most important predictors of people’s health and how long they will live. . . . But it is education that is emerging as the most critical predictor of longevity.” He explained: “Just as the food we eat gives our immune systems the strength to fight off life-threatening infectious germs, education protects us against bad choices.” As one researcher said, “with education you learn how to navigate your world” and how to “overcome potential barriers.” Hence, in a way, education is, as author Kotulak puts it, “the secret to a healthier, longer life.”
The first step toward attaining everlasting life in the future is also education—Bible education. Jesus Christ stated: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Taking in knowledge about Jehovah God, the Creator, about Jesus Christ, and about the ransom arrangement that God has provided is the only form of education that will prepare a person to take the first step on the road to everlasting life.—Matthew 20:28; John 3:16.
Jehovah’s Witnesses conduct a program of Bible education that can assist you to acquire this life-giving Bible knowledge. Visit one of their Kingdom Halls to learn more about this free program, or ask them to visit you at a convenient time. You will see that the Bible contains solid evidence that the time is near when life will no longer be hindered by hurdles and limited by a finish line. True, death has ruled for millenniums, but it will soon be defeated forever. What a thrilling prospect for old and young alike!
[Footnote]
Gerontologists have formed numerous different theories (by one count, more than 300!) that describe how aging may occur. However, these theories do not explain why it occurs in the first place.
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The first step to attaining everlasting life is Bible education
From a Squirt of Milk to a Spoonful of Powder
From a Squirt of Milk to a Spoonful of Powder
BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN NEW ZEALAND
FOR thousands of years and in practically every nation, milk has been a staple in the human diet. Milk, of course, comes from the mammary glands of females and is a complete food for their young. Unlike other creatures, however, humans have obtained this most nourishing of foods from a variety of mammals—in particular, from cows, camels, goats, llamas, reindeer, sheep, and water buffalo. Besides drinking milk straight, people also enjoy its many derivatives, among the more popular being butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
One of the more common milks, cow’s milk, is essentially an emulsion of 87 percent water and 13 percent solids. These solids include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and such minerals as calcium—important for bone growth and maintenance. Cows, incidentally, do not produce the richest milk. Of the animals listed above, that distinction goes to the reindeer, whose highly nutritious milk is about 37 percent solids!
Regardless of the source, milk does not keep for long unless refrigerated. A popular solution to this problem is powdered milk. But how do you turn milk into powder? Let’s pay a short visit to a modern milk processing plant at Waikato, New Zealand. This plant is one of the largest of its type in the world and daily produces 400 tons of complex milk powders for the global food industry.
From Liquid to Powder
Each day, a fleet of trucks with polished-steel trailer tanks brings fresh milk from New Zealand’s dairies to the plant, where the milk is kept fresh in insulated silos. From there, the milk moves into standardization separators, where it is separated into skim milk and cream and then remixed in specific quantities to give the end product the correct standard, or consistency. From the separators it goes to buffer storage before being made into milk powder.
Following pasteurization, the milk is boiled under vacuum. Why under vacuum? This ensures that the milk boils at a much lower temperature than normal, minimizing heat damage. When this stage of evaporation is complete, the solid concentration of the milk is approximately 48 percent. This concentrated product is now ready for the final process—drying.
The drying process begins with the concentrated milk being piped to the top of a multistory stainless steel dryer, where it is sprayed into heated air inside the dryer. The milk’s moisture content now falls to 6 percent, and it becomes a powder. One more stage reduces the moisture to 3 percent, after which the powder is gently cooled in preparation for packaging and shipping. The whole process is rigorously executed with minimal loss of the milk’s nutritional value and goodness.
You might live in an area where fresh milk is readily available. But many people live in isolated areas where fresh milk is hard to obtain and is expensive. Thanks to the marvel of powdered milk, their problems are solved. They just mix a few spoonfuls of powder with water, and the reconstituted milk, though not as tasty as fresh milk, does the job admirably.
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What Are Pasteurization and Homogenization?
Named after French scientist Louis Pasteur, pasteurization involves heating milk for a specified time and then cooling it quickly. This process kills harmful bacteria and thus extends the shelf life of milk. However, not all bacteria are killed, so milk products still have a limited shelf life. When properly refrigerated, high-quality pasteurized milk has a shelf life of about 14 days.
Homogenization physically changes the fat or cream globules in milk so that they do not float to the top of the milk and form a layer of cream. Homogenizers break up fat globules into units small enough to remain in suspension, giving milk a rich, even consistency.
[Credit Line]
By courtesy of U.S. National Library of Medicine
[Pictures on page 15]
This multistory dryer can dry more than nine tons of milk powder each hour
Fleet-Footed, Flightless, and Fascinating—The Ostrich
Fleet-Footed, Flightless, and Fascinating—The Ostrich
By Awake! correspondent in Kenya
AMONG the giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles that roam the vast African savanna dwell some of the most remarkable creatures ever designed by the Creator. People who see them are awed by their large size, great height, powerful legs, and beautiful fluffy feathers. Standing up to eight feet [2.5 m] tall and weighing up to 345 pounds [155 kg], they are the largest birds in existence. In the Swahili language, these birds are called mbuni, but you may recognize them by their more common name, ostrich.
Like a Strutting Camel
Long ago the ostrich was given the name struthocamelus, which is a combination of Latin and Greek, referring to a supposed similarity to camels. Like the camel, the ostrich is tolerant of high temperatures and thrives in desert country. It also has long luxuriant eyelashes, which protect its large eyes from the dust of the bushveld. Its legs are long and sinewy, and its feet are strong and fleshy, with only two toes. Seeing the ostrich strutting about in the open plains, observers are amazed at its agility, endurance, and other camellike characteristics.
The ostrich grazes among its hoofed neighbors, feeding on almost anything that slithers, creeps, or crawls. The ostrich is omnivorous and not only dines on insects, snakes, rodents, roots, and most vegetation but also swallows wood, shells, stones, sticks, and almost any small, brightly colored object.
Because of its great size and weight, it cannot fly. However, its muscular legs are powerful enough to make it one of the fastest creatures on earth. Running across desert country, it can attain speeds of up to 40 miles [65 km] per hour! The ostrich “laughs at the horse and at its rider,” notes the Bible. (Job 39:18) True to that observation, this two-legged speedster’s great swiftness and long-distance stamina allow it to outrun many of the fastest four-legged predators with ease.
Nesting Habits
During the breeding season, the male ostrich performs elaborate courtship displays. Kneeling before the female, he extends his large white-and-black wing feathers and begins to shake them rhythmically. Like two enormous fans, they move from side to side. His bare neck and legs begin to blush, turning a bright pink color, which contrasts beautifully with his jet-black body feathers. Swinging his long neck from side to side, he stamps the ground with his feet.
Likely this fancy show of feathered finesse is designed to impress the drab-colored female. Yet, often enough, as the male continues his nuptial courting dance, the female moves about pecking the ground, inattentive and indifferent to the commotion going on around her.
Once a female is selected, the male chooses a nesting site. He will scratch a shallow depression in the dust somewhere in the open savanna and will lead several females to it. After two or three weeks, the nest contains two dozen or more eggs, laid by those females.
Throughout the six weeks that it will take to incubate the eggs, the male will sit on the nest during the night, and one female will do so during the day. At this point the eggs are vulnerable and are sought after by hungry lions, hyenas, jackals, and even Egyptian vultures, who break open eggs by throwing stones against their shells.
Giant Eggs, Enormous Chicks
The gray-white or ivory eggs of the ostrich are the largest in the world and can weigh about three pounds [1.5 kg] each. The shell is hard and glossy and has a glazed, porcelainlike finish. Each egg is the equivalent of 25 hens’ eggs, and ostrich eggs are prized for their rich contents and delicious taste. Empty shells are sometimes used as containers by Bushmen, who fill them with water.
When the huge egg reaches the stage of hatching, it produces an enormous chick! Newborns are defenseless, but they grow fast and are born runners. Within a month their stout legs carry them at speeds approaching 35 miles per hour [55 kph]!
Protection of the chicks rests with the parent birds. That the ostrich buries its head in the sand when faced with danger is a myth. On the contrary, parent birds can be fiercely aggressive when protecting their brood, driving away predators with powerful kicks. Another defense tactic they employ is distracting the predator by pretending to be wounded, thus drawing attention away from their young and to themselves. However, if a predator comes too close to them, the parents usually turn tail and run for their lives, leaving their young to fend for themselves. The Bible statement is proved true, for on these occasions the ostrich “does treat her sons roughly, as if not hers.”—Job 39:16.
Luxuriant Plumes
For thousands of years, man has admired the ostrich. Pictures carved in stone depict ancient Egyptian kings hunting the ostrich with bows and arrows. Some civilizations considered the ostrich sacred. The Chinese prized the beautifully symmetrical ostrich eggs and offered them as precious gifts to rulers. For thousands of years, luxuriant flowing plumes of ostrich feathers have adorned the headdresses of military generals, kings, and African chiefs.
In the 14th century, ostrich feathers became highly valued by fashion-conscious Europeans. Yet, hunting the ostrich with spears and arrows was not easy, since the animal has keen eyesight and swiftly flees from danger. At that time, the ostrich was in no danger of extermination.
Then, in the 19th century, ostrich feathers again became fashionable. This time, armed with modern weapons, hunters slaughtered ostriches by the millions. The advent of ostrich farms probably saved the huge flightless bird from extinction. Now bred in captivity, ostriches have been domesticated and are raised to provide feathers for fashion and for feather dusters. Their skin is made into soft leather gloves and handbags, and their meat is served in some restaurants.
Today the magnificent ostrich still roams the African plains. Even though its former habitat is much reduced and it has become extinct in some areas, it continues to dwell in the solitary dry bushland that it prefers. There it can be seen wildly racing across the plains with its great flowing plumes, performing its elaborate courting dances, or watching over its nest of huge eggs. Indeed, this fleet-footed, flightless bird is another fascinating winged creature that brings delight and wonder to those who see it.
[Picture on page 16]
A male ostrich
[Picture on page 16, 17]
Ostriches are among the fastest creatures on earth
[Picture on page 16, 17]
Their feet can be powerful weapons
[Picture on page 18]
A female ostrich
My Dog Hears for Me!
My Dog Hears for Me!
BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN BRITAIN
“I DON’T know what I would do without my little dog!” Dorothy exclaimed, looking affectionately at a young white-and-tan crossbred Jack Russell terrier lying contentedly under her chair. “I have had Twinkie for only a few months, but already she has given me a new lease on life!”
Peering closer, I saw that Twinkie was wearing a close-fitting yellow body harness upon which was printed in bold black letters “HEARING DOG FOR THE DEAF.” ‘What an extraordinary animal!’ I remember thinking to myself. ‘What can it do?’
Ours was a chance meeting among 44,000 people attending the “God’s Way of Life” International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses last July in London, England. By sitting close to a loudspeaker, Dorothy was able to hear the program, so why did she need a hearing dog? As we sat talking during a lunch break, Dorothy told me her story.
Twinkie’s Role
Dorothy is profoundly deaf as a result of a bout of rheumatic fever at the age of three. Since her husband’s death 23 years ago, she has lived alone, but, as Dorothy explained, she needed more than companionship as she got older. “Deaf people can feel very insecure at my age,” she said. “I am 74 and live in a warden-secure apartment, but when the caretaker comes to see me, I can never hear my doorbell. Thinking that I might not be feeling well, he has sometimes let himself in without my knowing it; and that has given me quite a fright. But now Twinkie hears the bell, and she comes and taps on my leg and leads me to the front door. Similarly, when Twinkie hears the buzzer on my oven timer, she runs up to me, and I follow her. In the event of a smoke or fire alarm, Twinkie is trained to attract my attention and then lie down to indicate potential danger. Each time she helps me, I reward her with a special treat, a savory tidbit.”
Training With Skill
I was intrigued. “How did you get your dog, and who trained her?” I asked. This was the cue for Dorothy to tell me something about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a charity whose purpose is to help deaf people in Britain achieve greater independence and thus improve their quality of life. Since 1982 it has placed hundreds of dogs with deaf individuals in Britain. Once fully trained, a dog is transferred to its new owner by adoption, free of charge.
The dogs chosen are usually strays, often taken from rescue centers across the country, although some are donated by breeders. It takes up to 12 months to train a dog. The cost is often met by a sponsor, either a company or a group of people whose smaller contributions are combined. Dorothy told me that a slimming club had kindly sponsored Twinkie.
Once chosen, each potential hearing dog, ranging in age from seven weeks to three years, is trained to respond to certain sounds. Initially, however, it is assigned to a socializer, a volunteer who takes the dog home for two to eight months, depending on the dog’s age and experience. Socializing may include basic housebreaking, but the main goal is to get the animal familiar with public places and transport and to give it a wide variety of experience with people of all ages, including children and babies. The aim is to train the dog to behave acceptably under any circumstance in which it may eventually find itself.
In addition, I learned that other organizations use dogs to assist those with special needs. As well as being trained to heed commands, these dogs are exposed to specific sights and smells. One retriever caring for a woman confined to a wheelchair has been taught to pick up her telephone and letters and to lick stamps for the mail! Another dog responds to 120 commands, even collecting cans and packets from supermarket shelves. The disabled owner uses a laser dot to identify items that he has chosen, and his dog then takes them to him.
A Happy Partnership
“Does everybody appreciate the value of Twinkie?” I asked. “One storekeeper refused my dog entry,” Dorothy replied. “I think this was because he had some food on display, but his attitude really was an exception, as he did not understand why I need Twinkie.”
I now understood the value of a hearing dog in the home, but I had one more question. Of what value was Twinkie when Dorothy was happily mixing with so many fellow Christians? “I can lip-read well, and my hearing aid helps me to hold a conversation,” Dorothy explained. “When people see Twinkie’s yellow jacket, they know immediately that I am deaf. They then speak directly to me, usually as clearly as they can. Thus, I don’t have to explain my disability, and that makes life much easier for me.”
The convention sessions were due to recommence, and Twinkie needed a walk before settling down for the afternoon. Before taking my leave, I bent down to stroke her. Twinkie opened her bright eyes and then looked up at Dorothy and wagged her tail. Such a docile, useful little friend—and their rapport was complete!
[Picture on page 20]
Twinkie’s help is invaluable at conventions
Why Is Mom So Sick?
Young People Ask . . .
Why Is Mom So Sick?
Al’s father died of cancer.a Having been taught the Bible’s promise of a resurrection, Al somehow managed to cope with his loss. But when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, the nightmare started all over again. The thought of losing yet another parent terrified Al. ‘Why does it have to be my mother who is sick?’ he would ask himself bitterly.
ACCORDING to Dr. Leonard Felder, “there are over sixty million Americans who are . . . faced with the illness or disability of a loved one.” Felder adds: “On any given day, about one out of every four American workers has the added job of responding to the needs of an ailing parent” or other loved one. If you are in such a situation, you are not alone. Nevertheless, seeing someone you love become ill is frightening and painful. How can you possibly cope?
Why Is My Parent Sick?
Proverbs 15:13 says: “Because of the pain of the heart there is a stricken spirit.” It is quite normal to experience a flood of emotions when your parent is ill. For example, you may feel guilty about your parent’s plight. Perhaps you and your parent have been having some difficulties in getting along. You may have had a heated argument or two. Now that your parent is ill, you may somehow feel that it is your fault. But while family bickering may cause stress, it is rarely a cause of serious illness. Tensions and minor disagreements can occur even in loving Christian households. So you need not carry a burden of guilt, as if you were to blame for your parent’s health problems.
Ultimately, your mom or dad is sick because of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. (Romans 5:12) Because of that original sin, “all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now.”—Romans 8:22.
Painful Feelings
Even so, you may be worried and anxious. Terri’s mother suffers from lupus, a disorder with devastating effects. Admits Terri: “Whenever I’m away from home, I’m worried, wondering if Mom is OK. I find it difficult to concentrate. However, since I don’t want her to worry, I keep my feelings to myself.”
Proverbs 12:25 says: “Anxious care in the heart of a man is what will cause it to bow down.” Depression is quite common among youths in this situation. Terri says it was heartbreaking when she saw that her mother could not perform simple tasks. Adding to the stress is the fact that youths—girls in particular—are often forced to take on additional responsibilities. According to Professor Bruce Compas, “girls get burdened with family responsibilities, such as housekeeping and caring for younger siblings, that are beyond their ability to cope and which interfere with their normal social development.” Some teenagers retreat into their own world, listening to gloomy and depressing music.—Proverbs 18:1.
Fear that one’s parent may die is also common. Terri is an only child, and her mother, a single parent. Terri found herself crying every time her mother went to the hospital, fearing that she would never return. Says Terri: “It was just the two of us. I didn’t want to lose my best friend.” A teenage girl named Martha similarly admitted: “I’m eighteen, but I’m still afraid of losing my parents. It would be such a devastating feeling of loneliness.” Other common reactions to a parent’s illness are sleep disturbances, nightmares, and eating disorders.
What You Can Do
As difficult as things might seem right now, you can cope! Begin by sharing your fears and anxieties with your parents. Just how serious is your parent’s condition? What is the likelihood of his or her recovering? What arrangements have been made for your care should your parent fail to recover? Is there any chance that you will develop a similar condition later on in life? Although it is difficult for parents to talk about such things, if you calmly and respectfully ask for their help, they will likely do their best to be helpful and supportive.
Share your positive feelings too. Al recalls his failure to do so when he learned that his mother was dying of cancer. He says: “I didn’t tell her how much I loved her. I knew she wanted to hear me say it, but as a teenager I felt funny expressing such feelings to her. Shortly afterward she died, and I feel guilty now because when I had the chance, I didn’t take advantage of it. I regret that because she was the most important person in my life.” Do not hold back from letting your parents know how much you love them.
If possible, educate yourself regarding your parent’s illness. (Proverbs 18:15) Perhaps your family doctor can assist you in this regard. Being well-informed will help you to be more empathetic, patient, and understanding. And it can help prepare you for any physical changes your parent may suffer, such as scars, hair loss, or fatigue.
Is your parent in the hospital? Then make your visits cheerful and upbuilding. Keep your conversation as upbeat as possible. Share news about your schoolwork and Christian activities. (Compare Proverbs 25:25.) If you live in a country where relatives are expected to provide food and other services for a patient, do your share of the work without complaint. Having a neat and well-groomed appearance will not only cheer your parent but also make a good impression on hospital workers and doctors. This could improve the quality of the care your parent receives.b
Is your parent recuperating at home? Then do what you can to assist with his or her care. Volunteer to take on a reasonable share of the household chores. Try to imitate Jehovah by giving of yourself ‘generously and without reproaching.’ (James 1:5) Do the best you can to display an uncomplaining, optimistic, positive spirit.
Of course, you still have schoolwork. Try to set aside time for it, as your education is still important. If possible, leave some time for rest and recreation. (Ecclesiastes 4:6) This will refresh you and help you to be of better support to your parent. Finally, avoid isolating yourself. Take advantage of the support of fellow Christians. (Galatians 6:2) Says Terri: “The congregation became my family. The elders were always ready to talk with me and to encourage me. I will never forget that.”
Keeping Your Spiritual Balance
Most important of all is maintaining your spiritual balance. Keep yourself busy with spiritual activities, such as studying the Bible, attending meetings, and preaching to others. (1 Corinthians 15:58) During the summer months, Terri would increase her share in the evangelizing activity as an auxiliary pioneer. She adds: “Mom always encouraged me to prepare for and attend the meetings at the Kingdom Hall. That proved to be good for both of us. Since she couldn’t attend every meeting as she wanted to, I paid more than the usual attention so that I could tell her about it later. She depended on me to provide her with the spiritual food when she couldn’t be there.”
An article in The New York Times summed things up well when it spoke of a social worker who has been “continually surprised at how much children can grow and even thrive despite the trauma of parental illness.” She says: “They develop some skills they didn’t know they had . . . If they can get through this, they can get through many things.”
You too can get through this difficult period. Terri’s mother, for example, is now stable enough to care for herself. Perhaps, in time, your parent will also recover. But in the meantime, do not forget that you have the support of your heavenly Friend, Jehovah. He is the “Hearer of prayer” and will listen to your cries for help. (Psalm 65:2) He will give you—and your God-fearing parent—“the power beyond what is normal” so that you can cope.—2 Corinthians 4:7; Psalm 41:3.
[Footnotes]
Some of the names have been changed.
The article “Visiting a Patient—How to Help,” in the March 8, 1991, issue of Awake! has a number of practical suggestions.
[Blurb on page 22]
“Whenever I’m away from home, I’m worried, wondering if Mom is OK”
[Pictures on page 23]
Learning the facts about your parent’s illness can better equip you to be of help
What Lies Beyond the Planets?
What Lies Beyond the Planets?
Planet X. This name was given by astronomer Percival Lowell to an undiscovered planet that he suspected was orbiting beyond Neptune. His search for Planet X began in 1905 at his observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Although Lowell died before finding Planet X, the search he began continued. Finally, in 1930, at Lowell’s observatory, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto. Planet X did exist!
Astronomers immediately began to wonder, ‘Could another Planet X be found?’ Six decades of intense hunting followed, and in later years of the search, even spacecraft were used. Although thousands of asteroids, stars, galaxies, and nebulas were discovered, no new planets were identified.
Yet, the search did not cease. Scientists began to use new technologies and more powerful telescopes to detect orbiting objects that are millions of times fainter than can be seen by the naked eye. Their efforts finally paid off. Amazingly, dozens of minor planets beyond Pluto have now been sighted!
Where are those small planets? How many more may yet be found? Are they the most distant objects in our solar system?
The Farthest Objects
The solar system consists of nine planets orbiting the sun. In addition, thousands of rocky asteroids hurtle through space, mostly in a belt between Mars and Jupiter. Nearly a thousand comets have been spotted as well.
Which of these objects travel the greatest distance from the sun? Actually, the comets do, by far.
The word “comet” originates from the Greek word ko·meʹtes, meaning “long haired”—referring to the long, sweeping tails trailing behind their bright heads. Comets have been the source of much superstition and hysteria. Observers still refer to comet visits as apparitions. This stems from early beliefs that they were ghostly objects. Why have they been greatly feared? One reason is that their appearances have sometimes coincided with tragic events.
Comets still evoke fanaticism. In March 1997, in California, U.S.A., 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult committed mass suicide as the comet Hale-Bopp approached the sun. Why? Because they expected that an alien spacecraft, supposedly hiding behind the comet, was coming to pick them up.
Not everyone has viewed comets irrationally. In the fourth century B.C.E., Aristotle proposed that comets were clouds of luminous gas high up in the sky. A few centuries later, the Roman philosopher Seneca astutely suggested that comets were orbiting, heavenly bodies.
With the advent of the telescope and the discovery of Newton’s law of gravitation, the study of comets became a more precise science. By 1705, Edmond Halley had determined that comets orbit the sun on long, elliptic paths. Furthermore, he noted that comets appearing in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 had similar trajectories and were separated by regular intervals of about 75 years. Halley correctly suggested that each of these sightings was of the same orbiting comet, later named Halley’s Comet.
Researchers now know that comets have a solid nucleus, generally between 1 and 12 miles [1 and 20 kilometers] across. The nucleus can best be described as a dark, dirty iceberg made up mostly of water ice mixed with dust. Close-up images of Halley’s Comet taken by the Giotto spacecraft in 1986 show jets of gas and dust emanating from the comet. These emissions make up the bright comet head and tail seen from the earth.
Comet Families
Two families of comets orbit the sun. A comet’s classification is based on its orbital periods, or the amount of time it takes to complete one revolution around the sun. Short-period, or periodic, comets—like Halley’s Comet—take fewer than 200 years to make each trip around the sun. Their orbits follow paths close to the ecliptic, the celestial plane in which the earth and other planets orbit the sun. There may be a billion periodic comets, most of which are orbiting beyond the outermost planets Neptune and Pluto, billions of miles from the sun. Occasionally, some of these, such as Encke’s Comet, have their orbits pulled in nearer to the sun by close encounters with planets.
What about the orbits of long-period comets? Unlike their short-period counterparts, long-period comets circle the sun from all directions. They include the comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, which put on spectacular displays during their recent appearances. However, they are not expected back for thousands of years!
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