Many astronomers are really driven by the search for Earth twins because I think deep down the natural endpoint of this whole goal of looking for planets is to answer the question: are we alone? That is a burning itch that I think many of us have our entire lives wanted to answer. I'm sure many of you feel the same way as well. So I think that was what really drives us.
We live in a world where it's easier than ever to surround ourselves with people who think exactly like we do. Social media bubbles, corporate cultures and even leadership teams can all become echo chambers, places where the loudest reinforcement drowns out the most valuable challenge. The problem? Echo chambers create blind spots. They emphasize what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. They boost our confidence but rarely bring clarity.