A Universe in a Universe

[IamThisGuy]

For those of you who don't know, the image referred to the "Pale Blue Dot" is the image of the Earth taken by the Voyager 1 probe in 1990 3.7 billion miles away. Here's the link with info: Pale Blue Dot.

I found it when just looking up some random interesting information. At first I thought to myself that it was a pretty cool picture. But then I took a moment to just stare t, to soak it in. And that's when it really hit me. To the point that I was almost in tears, I was in complete awestruck by how unbelievably insignificant we are. I had read and heard many different people try to explain the sheer vastness of the Universe but for me none of them were able to deliver its awesomeness as this photo. I then proceeded to read Carl Sagan's quote on the Wikipedia page and he was able to put into words all of the emotions I had at that moment.

In the grand scheme of things, we are, for lack of a better word, a speck. Our world of problems, misery and sorrow are taking place without so much as a "boop" on the radar. Thinking of that photo, I started to think about the people who are raging wars and arguments over their convictions. So I thought to myself: ok, let's say they get their way and claim their victories. Next to that photo, I would then say "Now what?"

But our world can also be full of such immense joy and beauty. The capacity of the human mind is a Universe in itself, sitting in our craniums as we go about our daily lives. The things we can do, laughter we share, the love we create; these things are elements that make up our "Universe." We must find a way to create harmony in our own lives and with the people around us because in the end, they're all we have.

[Bluegameroyon]

"To the point that I was almost in tears...". Pathetic.

The thing is, I don't think we're insignificant. Sagan has said that we are "star stuff". But then Neil deGrasse Tyson pointed out a better term for it- that we're literally "star dust". I agree with him on this so much.

Here's Tyson explaining it far better than you could ever hope to:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=6RjW5-4IiSc

Some people here think this is best article. LOL. wow. You ain't seen nothing yet...

[Universe]

I honestly think it's pretty awesome that we're so insignificant. It shows that there's much more to our existence than what we experience in our daily lives. And that last paragraph is amazing. We don't have a long time to live here so we may as well try to make use with what we've got.

[serp777]

You talk about the fact that we're a speck as being insignificant. Points and specks are incredibly interesting. A point contains the entire framework of the universe within it--points determine the makeup of any higher dimension. But the highest dimension can also be represented as simply a point. In other words, a point is equivalent to infinity and is the basis for all existence. It contains within it all the possible information in the universe.

[Angelyn]

Who would have thought a picture of nothing but a pale blue dot would hold so much meaning and complexity.. If you hadn't told me what it was I would have dismissed that image and thought nothing of it - probably just like the rest of the universe thinks of us. Great article btw.

[chyell]

Carl Sagan was an amazing man, and one of my heroes. I have his book The Cosmos, I've been looking for the Pale Blue Dot, which is the source of one of my favorite quotations from him, "Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives." He really changed the way I view life and the universe in a way no one ever has.

[Dan2287]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgg2tpUVbXQ

Thats my fav video on this subject. Its crazy just thinking that images like this show us what that part of space looked like millions of years in the past. Its too bad we will never see the end of the universe due to its ever increasing expansion rate

[Belgie]

And in all that vast empty universe, some of us still believe that a being of infinite power and complexity and intelligence... would give two sh*ts what people down here do with their genitals.

Religion...

[Yeahhbro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1w8hKTJ2Co&feature=related

You should see this video it shows the size of all the stars discovered, you can really see how small we are compared to the rest of the universe.

[ModifyThis77]

I think you guys should watch

"Into Universe by Stephen Hawking" with his "TIME and SPACE" and "Beginning of Everything"

if your head is huge enough to fill the wonders of the universe

[PhysGrad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw

Here's the man himself giving us a healthy dose of perspective.

[AnonymousDude]

You sir, have learned one of the few downsides of science. The most we learn, the less we actually matter.

[mid20sgirl86]

I always feel that way when I see images of earth from space. It's overwhelming.

[christini]

Just as atoms make up a structure of our world, our planets make up a structure of the universe.

[aikidy]

yah, it was taken by a voyager spaceship.. I think that picture is really cool , but many people don't understand it , they think its stupid

[navya]

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ARTICALS I HAVE EVER READ!!!!

[thealpha]

Wow!!interestin read.......what if the parallel anti-matter universe exists?

[kellylizzz]

https://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2AKPqN/www.postimage.org/image.php%3Fv%3Dgx1G8GWS

That picture does the same and more as the pale blue dot one.

[sweet_18]

Well actually, it's the more we learn, the more questions we have to ask.

[Dancer3984]

You are an excellent writer. I mean you could turn that article into a book or write for a newspaper. Your writing is something I would love to read.

[Mr_Solo_Dolo]

This is pretty great. Thanks for sharing.

[soulfulleyes]

We are amebas on a rock

[Gregs]

I think I'm going to throw up