"I was very much attached to the idea that my history is a blip - that my personal history, how I perceive it, was just a blip, seen against the history of the universe. A lot of astronomers sort of wrestle with what, exactly, that means. The work we do to philosophize and make an abstract version of the universe is so small compared to the ground realities of what our communities need."
"Our idea of deep time has actually shrunk in size compared to what you would have thought was potentially possible, because we know what deep time is, what the idea of billions of years of change looks like. And to us, it feels like our blip is all we have. For me, I think of a deeper appreciation of the life I'm living, the space I'm occupying"
Astronomers often regard personal history as a brief blip when compared to the vast chronology of the universe. Philosophical and abstract models of the cosmos can feel disconnected from immediate community needs. Familiarity with the scale of deep time has narrowed its psychological impact, making individual lifespans seem more limited. The scientific perspective on billions of years of change reinforces a sense that personal existence is fleeting. That sense of brevity can yield a deeper appreciation for present life, the physical spaces one inhabits, and the limited time available to spend with loved ones.
Read at High Country News
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