What on Earth

With an estimated two trillion galaxies in the observable Universe and about 400 billion potential stars in the Milky Way alone, what on Earth are we truly doing with this life? I wonder about that often. We toil until we die, we fight amongst ourselves, and we seek satisfaction in online shopping carts. It’s utterly exhausting.

Quick Jump

Just now, my dog pushed her snout against my leg, prompting me for a treat. That small act—her desire, my satisfying connection with her—feels profoundly important in this moment. I’ll set aside the cosmic questions for a minute and enjoy her company.

Perspective

In the last five trips around the sun, the human experience has changed fundamentally, haven’t you noticed? The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped us, leaving a permanent mark on our collective story. I’ll leave that point open for reflection.

Give me hope

I recently learned that some studies suggest there could be anywhere from six billion to twenty billion more Earth-sized planets in the Milky Way. As I absorbed that fact, my dog lay down, settling in for a peaceful time next to my chair.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we could all love one another as fiercely as we love our pets? Failing that, we could at least grant each other basic respect. I imagine a day when we finally achieve interstellar travel. My biggest hope is that we won’t be taking a cab across the Milky Way just to tell our neighbors that our way is the only way.

A lesson here

The reason I enjoy learning about the Universe so much is because it gives me immense hope. Here we are on Earth—fighting, paying taxes, and struggling—while the neighbors across our galaxy are doing… what? I long to know. Our struggles—the wars, the pandemics, the political divisions, and the persistent problems like racial discrimination—have been trying to teach us something for centuries. Are we finally listening?

Stories and more stories

I believe the infinite possibility of the Universe gifts us an equally infinite tapestry of possible stories and ideas. And without even realizing it, we are constantly creating parallel realities. Imagine all the people creating diverse things. It’s fascinating. We are creatures capable of doing beautiful things, like building telescopes that can capture light from the Universe’s earliest moments. Science evolves alongside us, offering the prospect of discoveries and updated information every single day.

Saturn

This reminds me: two winters ago, I saw Saturn through a telescope for the very first time. I was so happy I burst into tears. Chills stretched across my body, and I felt as though I had reached out and touched another planet.

That is what I feel every time I read a new story—like I’m touching Saturn.

More resources:

More about the fascinating Universe in which we live.

Two Trillion Galaxies in the Visible Universe.

400 billion potential Stars in the Milky Way