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Perhaps it simply is the case that we’re trapped on this planet, or in this solar system. When I read articles that discuss the vastness of the cosmos and the

Perhaps it simply is the case that we’re trapped on this planet, or in this solar system. When I read articles that discuss the vastness of the cosmos and the trillions upon trillions of stars that inhabit our universe, and the likelihood that there are perhaps billions of inhabitable planets out there teeming with life, the emotion I feel most is not awe, but a deep sadness for all that we'll never know or understand about the universe. Many of these galaxies are tens of billions of light years away, so unless there's some pretty impressive loopholes in the laws of physics as we understand them today, we as a species will never know what lies beyond the tiniest fraction of our little corner of the universe. And that's depressing.

chops 17y ago
As an individual who will likely not be around in 100 years or so, it's mildly depressing to know that I won't see the next 500+ years of advancement. As a species, I'm not worried. Who knows what discoveries will be made, and what kind of subsequent technological achievements will be made in the future? If the history of science has taught us anything, it's to not underestimate the power of the undiscovered. If you figure, there are a handful of things that we know we don't yet know (grand unified theory). Just think of the things we don't know that we don't know.
- smhinsey 17y ago
  > If the history of science has taught us anything, it's to not underestimate the power of the undiscovered. well said
  - biff-wellington 17y ago
    "well said" if you don't understand anything about modern physics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light even if you figure someway of travelling simply very fast, humans could not survive in space for extended periods. and even if you could physically survive and extend your lifespan over the tens of thousands of years necessary to get anywhere interesting, you would go insane and kill yourself. and if you did end up somewhere, the first plants or living foodsource would likely kill you. if you can't survive the water in mexico or food in india, how do you plan to cope with bok choi from a planet near proxima centauri? "advanced medicine"??? that only works by trial and error r2d2 and c3p0 might be able to do interstellar travel, humans won't.

chops 17y ago

As an individual who will likely not be around in 100 years or so, it's mildly depressing to know that I won't see the next 500+ years of advancement. As a species, I'm not worried. Who knows what discoveries will be made, and what kind of subsequent technological achievements will be made in the future? If the history of science has taught us anything, it's to not underestimate the power of the undiscovered. If you figure, there are a handful of things that we know we don't yet know (grand unified theory). Just think of the things we don't know that we don't know.

smhinsey 17y ago
> If the history of science has taught us anything, it's to not underestimate the power of the undiscovered. well said
- biff-wellington 17y ago
  "well said" if you don't understand anything about modern physics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light even if you figure someway of travelling simply very fast, humans could not survive in space for extended periods. and even if you could physically survive and extend your lifespan over the tens of thousands of years necessary to get anywhere interesting, you would go insane and kill yourself. and if you did end up somewhere, the first plants or living foodsource would likely kill you. if you can't survive the water in mexico or food in india, how do you plan to cope with bok choi from a planet near proxima centauri? "advanced medicine"??? that only works by trial and error r2d2 and c3p0 might be able to do interstellar travel, humans won't.