25 APRIL 1969, Page 6

Time and motion

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS

The universe is slowing down rapidly and even- tually planets, stars, galaxies and cosmic dust will contract into a vast fireball—Dr Alan Sand- age, radio-astronomer at Mount Palomar.

The universe is breaking up, And those who bought it bought a pup.

The universe is slowing down (The pundits say with pitying frown).

And stars and their galaxies must All come at last to cosmic dust.

For when its silly day is done The world will bump into the sun, The solar system all expire in one consuming ball of fire.

The cautious pundits hesitate To fix definitively a date For such events. For who shall say?

Maybe ten million years away—

At least before, the graph records, They have reformed the House of Lords.