I think the parent comment is using "peer behind the curtain" not to describe insight into the physical universe and its wonders, but rather insight into the 'h

I think the parent comment is using "peer behind the curtain" not to describe insight into the physical universe and its wonders, but rather insight into the 'human universe' and its various disappointments (like how it's often non-meritocratic, the difficulties of making meaningful change, the political shietgeist, being better able to predict a decision's potentially disastrous consequences, etc)