This is from a recent BBC news article online.

A giant cloud of hydrogen gas is racing towards a collision with the Milky Way, astronomers have announced.

At this point I was thinking, “All my troubles . . . all our troubles may be solved!” No more anxiety about the Iraq war, the economy, climate change, personal upsets . . . and no more Britney Spears headlines. Blessed relief on all counts.

Then I read the next paragraph:

Smith’s Cloud, as it is known, may set off spectacular fireworks when it smacks into our galaxy in 20-40 million years.

That doesn’t really help me today, and even if I were on a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, which I am not, 20-40 million years may be pushing it for my life expectancy.

It contains enough hydrogen to make a million stars like the Sun, say experts, and its leading edge is already hitting gas from our galaxy.

Already! This could be closer than we think and bigger than all of us. And we were worried about the hydrogen bomb.