Figure 1. Dark Energy Camera


Dark energy is the energy that is causing the universe to expand at an accelerating rate. If the energy were converted to mass, (using Einstein’s famous equation E = mc2) that mass would make up about 70 percent of the universe. Dark matter takes 25 percent, and everything we can see plus the stars and planets we cannot because they are too far away equals about 4 percent.
How can we learn about the universe? Astronomers and other scientists like Edward Hubble first pointed out that other galaxies exist in the billions. He also used the red shift to predict most of these galaxies were moving away from us, leading to the big bang theory. The further they were from Earth the faster they moved away from Earth. Although that is true most times, there are exceptions. For example, Andromeda is expected to collide with our Milky Way galaxy in about 4 billion years.
The answer for human survival is to move to one or more nearby solar systems that are predicted to have longer life and habitable planets. Long before that happens, the oceans will boil off and Earth will no longer be habitable.
In astronomy, the standard candle refers to a type 1a supernova, which can be about as bright as an entire galaxy but only lasts for a about week. Astronomers and other scientists now have a tool to measure distance with some accuracy because these type 1a supernovae are always the same brightness. Is the data from the Humble telescope accurate enough to solve dark energy? No scientific explanation has yet come forward from the data. It maybe the biggest mystery in physics.
Dr. Levin puts forth an interesting and original idea in his novel 30th Century: Escape through his leading lady, Jennifer. That black holes create space. If true, that idea could explain how dark energy expands the universe. The theory is not quite that simple; we need to know more about black holes. The next two space telescopes planned, James Webb and HDST, may give us more answers

Figure 2.  James Webb is set to launch in 2020 and the HDST may launch after 2030 out before 2040. 
Credit (ESA/STScl) Hubble News Release

Figure 3. “Two star clusters are becoming one in30 Doradus, 170,000 lightyears away in the Large Magellanic Cloud.”

It will not be a long wait before we get to look at planets for the signs of life and extraterrestrial biology. The James Webb will focus on the infrared and will not be a replacement in the visible and near-infrared for Hubble; we must wait until 2030s. Stay tuned for next blog about what could have caused the big bang.  NASA photo from Hubble of distant stars and nebula

 What happens in Journey?
Carl wakes up naked and confused on a deserted beach, his last memories of being abducted by aliens. As he slowly begins to explore his new surroundings, he is greeted by a strangely dressed woman who offers to lead him to her village. He agrees, hoping the village has a means for him to contact home.
But the village is not what he expected. The people live in primitive conditions, without electricity and certainly not anyway to contact the outside world. In fact, most of the people in the village were not born on Earth. The woman, Tanya, informs him she is the Witchdoctor’s daughter and that the peninsula they live on is all there is. They can never leave with an impassable desert blocking a land escape and sea monsters blocking the water.
But Carl is different than the rest of the villagers. The aliens, unlike the other abductees, left his with his memory of Earth fully intact. He is determined to journey to the mainland and find a way to return home. His second task is to win the heart of Tanya, who is forbidden to have a man in her life.

EJ Perez - ejperez1313@gmail.com


The Superhuman Race was conceived close to 3 decades ago back in 1986. It was supposed to be a comic book story. An artist was hired and panels were drafted. I procrastinated, not sure on the concept and the artist moved on. It later evolved into a book with a journalistic style, I wrote a couple of chapters this way and I loved it. But I wasn’t too sure if I wanted this format. So I stopped.
At one time I considered hiring a ghost-writer to write the book, for me getting the story out was my satisfaction. I would become a story creator, writing the outline with the ghost-writer writing the book, it didn’t pan out.
For a while, I put the book on the back burner. With priorities in life coming into play, I concentrated on working 2 full-time jobs for years. Exhausted, my creativity couldn’t come out, I was too tired to think. I only worked, slept and ate for years.
My creative juices always in the background, they came back even with the exhaustion I felt. The cause for this; there were books being published with a hint of my story. I knew I needed to put this out before my ideas became a general thought to the rest of writers.
Not satisfied with my story and where it was going, my wife suggested I put the theme of the story in the future. With my interest in all things future, it felt like a perfect fit. Thus the Superhuman Race was born into the future.
I had initially 3 stories separate from each other, created way back in 1986, fusing them together only made sense. At the time, there weren’t a lot of multiple story arcs in a novel. I thought this would be different and began writing my outline. Then came GOT (Game of Thrones) and other books and I felt I was on the right track with the book as far as multiple story arcs.
But now, it came for me writing the book. I am an impatient person and doing a book that would have taken a year to a couple of years to finish, was just too daunting a task and frustrating. So why not with my love of comics and soap operas and television serials, why not make the book into a novella, with cliff-hangers or one-shot character stories and make them all in the same world (Universe). In other words make a comic book format novella, numbered and set in a comic book form with prose.
Writing the first book took only a month, getting it ready for publication took over 6 months. My research on getting my novella out was more in how to get it published. And which was the best route to get it published? I did not want to go the traditional route; which was finding an agent, waiting to get accepted, then more time waiting to get published (years) plus, I wanted complete control of my product idea.
Which is where I am now; The Superhuman Race is the beginning of a series that will be ongoing and my hopes entertaining. I’ve enjoyed writing the characters and I hope you will enjoy reading them.
Enter the Superhuman Race is the first book in a continuing Novella series set one-step into the future. It’s a quick read with about 25k-35k words, give or take, with the next book out every 2-3 months, maybe sooner.
It deals with humanities struggle against a one world government with advancements in technology as the backdrop. Including humans chipped, cloned and enhanced on physical abilities through natural or artificial means.  This is not a dystopia story, but a story on what happens when humanity reaches the threshold of technology in the future. Does humanity change for the better? That is the question.
It’s the Superhuman Race the next evolution against the Human Race who have become oppressed in this future timeline; A very possible path that can take place if we’re not careful.

The Mystic Order of Withlings
 
The Bow of Hart Saga is set in the world of Denaria with its own history, people-groups, religions and history. Part of the back-drop for the first book of the series, The Bow of Destiny, is the history of the mystic order of Withlings. This religious order worships their deity, Eloch, by learning to spiritually abide in his presence. Their catch-phrase, "What is needed is given," best describes the outlook of Withlings; they can only serve as Eloch provides.
 
While this premise seems limiting, it isn't for Withlings who are capable of performing astounding miracles and speaking prophesies. Often, they will not speak of anything or act unless they determine from their mystic discipline that it is Eloch's will for them to do so. It is the basis of their lives that they best serve by learning total obedience. However, this does not make them infallible as they are just as apt as anyone to misunderstand the meaning of their actions and prophesies. Only the wisest of Withlings have learned to withhold their speculations regarding any action taken or events experienced.
 
At the time in which The Bow of Hart Saga is set, there are few Withlings left in Denaria so that few people have even met one in generations. Tales are remembered from past centuries of these once well-known servants of Eloch, but few know much of them anymore except for the longer-lived people-groups such as elves and dwarves who still revere Withlings.
 
One of the main characters from The Bow of Hart Saga is the Withling, Hastra. Part of Hastra's story is told in the short story, What Is Needed, which explains the events surrounding the demise of the Withlings. Interested readers are invited to read What Is Needed as well as the other prequel short story, Trading Knives.
 
The Bow of Destiny takes up the story of the Withlings amid much mystery and magic, focusing upon the young ranger of Auguron named Athson. This ranger is drawn into a quest involving a Withling prophecy about a mythic bow. Fantasy readers are welcome to join the hunt for the Bow of Hart by accompanying Athson on his adventure.
 
An Arrow Against the Wind continues the quest for Athson as he must determine the best course he should take in matters regarding his past and present, including the shared wisdom of Withlings. But Athson's distrust of Withlings and his familial past create a set of challenging choices which he determines to navigate on his own, almost heedless of consequences.
 
Once The White Arrow begins, Athson is faced with a new choice regarding Withlings, one which will seal his destiny. The march to the final confrontation leads Athson on a far different path than he anticipated and a far different answer to the questions of his past, his relationship with the Bow of Hart and the prophesied White Arrow.