Science fiction : Birds in 2075

 

#Sciencefiction : Birds in 2075

Hazy, and gilded in the hue of shimmering steel that is bright but at the same time translucent. This is the air and visibility in 2075. 

In 2075 one can be selective only in a few proceedings of life, whereas most of them have acquired a definite form that is like the laws of the Universe, never bending and never changing. And you are offered only one choice, take it or just place it in the already yoked fate of yours! Because nature has assumed the role of a tyrannical apostle who has forgotten the ways of the Universe that once favoured and fostered the human race. An infliction self begotten by humans due to their negligence and triviality, when it came to the utilisation of natural resources. 

Humans mostly degraded and ravaged nature’s every asset, leading to its destabilisation and complete ruin. As a result, it has turned barren and discriminatory towards every human endeavour in 2075. 

However, it has not given up on life all together, because in this ruinous state as well, it has supported the evolution of birds. And in 2075, there are new species of birds that dominate the skies and the land as well. The surviving men and women in 2075 call them “Aerial Invaders!”

It was in early 2070 when air quality deteriorated further and trees in some areas adapted to these changes. Whereas many plant and tree species were slow to evolve and went extinct. As a result air quality was declared noxious in certain areas, because the trees in these areas had re-engineered their energy generation mechanism. They consumed less CO2, because there was less rainfall, and in some areas where there was rainfall it contained toxins. So, they evolved a way to consume less CO2 and yet generate sufficient energy, leading to less Oxygen release.

In these areas, where trees are still evolving to adapt to the changing climate and weather patterns, CO2 concentration is increasing because trees are generating less Oxygen and consuming less CO2.

And in these areas, the population of birds that depended on these trees for their shelter and food have evolved too. Because now these trees produce seeds with a new compound that is laced with toxins. Simply because they are conserving energy and produce very less seeds, and to ensure the survival and germination of these seeds they have infused these seeds with compounds which are highly toxic and any animal or bird that consumes them, would certainly be sealing its own fate.

It is the same with their leaves as well. It is as if trees have developed a self communication network that ensures their survival by allowing them to learn new strategies to cope with this extremely vicious environment. Few trees have become shorter and stouter, whereas many trees have gained height but their diameter of the main trunk has reduced. And the quality of the wood is very different. 

The trees that are shorter and stouter have strong and durable wood, whereas trees that tend to gain height are fragile and the wood is less fibrous. It is as if they are learning to gain height and re-adjust their mitochondrial mechanisms to generate energy and then transfer its benefits to the overall growth of the tree. 

As of today, they appear to be relying mostly on a single vein that acts as Xylem and Phloem as well. It is just that they have developed a new function that helps them to regulate alternating the upward and downward movement of fluids. Unlike in earlier generations of trees, where Xylem and Phylum were separate channels, because the trees could afford investing so much energy to sustain two mechanisms with two separate channels. But in the present scenario, they have learned to bypass this need by using a single channel, simply by introducing a trigger point that works like a valve, which facilitates the upward and downward movements of fluids. Almost like the neck of the giraffe, which has a similar valve, to maintain blood pressure levels in the giraffe, especially when it lowers its head to drink water and then lifts it up when it has had its fill. Shooting blood to such a height ( upright head ) all of a sudden would result in immediate pressure failure in giraffes without this valve. But nature has offered giraffes a gift of evolution, that enables them to overcome this handicap easily, while maintaining its pressure.

So, the trees are evolving and they are coping well with lower concentration of oxygen. But how has this led to the evolution of birds?

In Birds, it is the male birds that wear flashy colours and sparkling plumes, all to please the females. And imparting colour to feathers requires a lot of energy, and to generate energy every living organism requires a nutritious food source. 

Well, if anybody is least happy with this strange evolution, it is the female birds, because they now have less flamboyant male birds to win their interest. 

But evolution is a great master, it balances everything perfectly. The female birds have developed a rare colour based abrasion where they now do not focus on the attractive colours of the feathers, but on the ability of the male to survive in the harsh climate and be a dependable parent. And most of the birds raise the chicks together. 

In 2075, even among bird species, where male birds had no role to play in raising the chicks, they have now evolved to participate equally in the chick raising process. Many may look at this as a development that has been necessitated by the existing ecosystem, but to an expert this too is evolution because evolution is not only about physical changes, it is also about traits and behavioural changes.

These are minor adaptations developed by the birds, but there are birds that have transformed completely. In ancient times there used to be giant birds, because oxygen concentration was way too high. But now it is just the opposite, the CO2 levels are increasing and this also means the planet is turning warmer and in few places, hotter!

As a result, there is a new species of birds that dominates the skies. Their wings are very unique and support glide mode, it further results in burning less energy/fat reserves. The wings in birds usually have two bones that join the left wing to the left side of the main body and the right wing to the right side of the body. In 2075, there is a small hump-like point on the upper body of these birds, and a single bone grows horizontally outwards, and in a few birds it can grow as long as 4 feet and more. Then a thin and elastic like skin joins these bones towards the tail end of the bird. Almost like hand gliders.

These birds during the initial flight, burn a lot of energy to gain height, but once they are airborne, they can rely on glide mode to cover long distances, and these wings have one vein-like growth with rubbery feathers growing on them. It is used by them to change direction. Simply by moving their muscles. This evolutionary development has helped these species of birds to conserve 60% energy, compared to birds that ruled the skies before 2050.

It is a remarkable development and it proves how nature supports the species that it feels are necessary for its own conservation. And it is not so in the case of humans in 2075.

But there is another bird species that has taken evolution to the next level. And the evolution is not at all noticeable if not observed carefully, but once noticed, it leaves you in complete awe!

The beaks of Skimmers are flat towards the end, so that when they swoop on the water surface and skim through it, their beaks trap the fish, and then the beak clamps against the fish like a pair of flat tongs. A simple evolution that enables skimmers to retrieve fish from lakes and other water bodies.

And that is a problem in 2075. Because all fish do not have the fins and body structure that can allow them to swim near the surface of the water. Only a few fish can do this. Due to global warming, the number of these fish has declined and it poses a direct threat to the survival of skimmers. Once again nature came to their rescue.

Their flat ended beaks have undergone some design changes. Their beak tips have become triangular but the triangle-like shape is extremely refined because it has not lost its skimming purpose, instead it has enhanced it. And it comes with another advantage, the beak can pick worms and insects from the shores and forest areas, which it could not do earlier due to its flat orientation of the beak. In addition to this, their webbed feet have developed nails that are strong and sharp. It helps them to loosen the moist soil and look for worms. This is evolution at its best, because it displays the details evolution can consider to aid a species in its survival. It is a very slow process, but it is always at work and seeks control when it knows it is the right time to manifest itself. 

Almost like humans, who learned to stand upright on their feet, once they left trees and walked on the ground, and started using tools. At this stage their thumb got shorter and slightly bent, it was an evolutionary need to help them become better tool makers. However, our direct ancestors, the chimps, do not possess this evolution in their design of the hands and fingers. That is why their grip is different compared to human hands. This proves evolution indeed is very selective.

I am sure you must have watched Mountain Snow Leopards, especially a Himalayan Mountain Snow  Leopard. It has an unusually fat and long tail. It is almost longer than its body. Any guesses why?

It chases its prey on craggy slopes, on rocky surfaces, and to maintain its balance, nature has gifted it a tail that is unlike any other animal. It also has specially padded feet. Softer than the softest but strongest rubber, with a non slippery surface. Again it is an adaptation for the Mountain Snow Leopards. But due to global warming they find the heat unbearable. However, they are adapting and hopefully they will not go extinct. They are simply magnificent and so regal, it will be such a loss to nature and humanity alike!

The birds in 2075 are adapting fast and you see evolution revealing itself in different ways. In a few birds, their wings have changed, in few their feathers have changed, in a few their beaks have changed, and in a few the entire anatomy has undergone change and they are the species of birds with every body part that has evolved to meet the requirements of 2075. And in their case the trees that produce toxins in their seeds and leaves, have developed no defence mechanism yet. Because these birds can consume the seeds of these trees and plants, because they have toxin neutralising compounds that help them feed on these seeds without causing any harm to them.

Sadly, these birds are still evolving and they do not survive for long. And in these birds too, there are a few that tend to be exceptional cases. And it is via them evolution will achieve its ultimate goal. To make these birds resistant to all naturally occuring toxins in 2075 and offer them the advantage over the rest of the bird species. Imagine a bird with qualities of vultures, falcons, skimmers, woodpeckers and bull finches. Definitely a bird that will survive anywhere and in the harshest climate. A bird that is about to rule the skies in 2075.

While these birds are caught in the vortex of evolution and they are still in the cradle of evolution’s vivarium, it is only a matter of time, when they shall bear flights of freedom and claim their part of the skies in 2075. 

As for us humans, we are yet to evolve. Because in our case evolution was faster than usual, and it loved us so much that it offered us the best gifts evolution has to offer. However, its best and most priced creation turned against it, and today it is repenting. So, humans have to self evolve. Less physically and more in terms of feelings and emotions, because that is where evolution allowed us to be our own masters. And if we do it right, I have no doubt that with our new tools of evolution like AI and IA, we can renew our ties of amity with nature and then together, claim what is rightfully ours. The entire Universe. Because it evolved just to make us the masters of it- Only when it feels we have evolved all the needed and right qualities. And in 2075 we certainly are not ready yet!

With this belief and faith in human evolution, I wrote my #sciencefiction novel, They Loved in 2075. It is about human evolution at an emotional level, because in 2075, humans are facing an emotional crisis, and this is damaging every building block of human societies. And in this reality, there is a boy who falls in love with a beautiful female in 2075.

This romance #scifi is about his struggles and that of his love interest, to remain human, and feel and experience love, like humans do. A reality of 2075, where love is in crisis because humans have forgotten to feel. All due to their exceedingly high interactions with self aware and intelligent machines. Yet in 2075 these lovers manage to vivify their lives somehow. Somehow that is!

To know how, explore the #scifi novel, They Loved in 2075! I know you might be thinking it is not a best selling #scifibook yet. But all best selling #scifibooks embark on the journey of being the best selling scifi book via that first reader i.e. one reader. And then the journey continues, until the long list of fan like readers makes it the best selling #scifibook.