Somewhat relatedly, the article reads like a plea for funding. It's not just an "interesting story", it's an attempt to justify why the story should be further

Somewhat relatedly, the article reads like a plea for funding. It's not just an "interesting story", it's an attempt to justify why the story should be further researched: > Our actions will be a source of pride for our descendants if they sustain a civilization intelligent enough to endure for trillions of years. Here’s hoping that we will act wisely enough to be remembered favorably in their “big history” books.