You make it all seem breathtaking, as it is, of course. We're just not always capable of feeling it. The thought of these remarkable beginnings are almost too much to comprehend. We're these tiny, inconsequential beings who want so much to matter in the scheme of things, and when we see where we fit in, we realize we're here and then we're gone. We're basically nothing.
But carry on. I can take it. And you do it so well...
I suppose. That's what Carl Sagan was trying to tell us all throughout 'Cosmos'. It's not that we're insignificant, it's that the universe beats us all to hell when it comes to significance.
This is the kind of "big history" I would love for people to understand better. The comparisons (history vs humanity; human existence vs life) are grasped by far too few humans alive today.
I love this stuff. The smallest bits of information rock everything you thought you knew. I recall when I first grasped that until those tiny photosynthesisers began belching out oxygen (as waste from the photosynthesis process) there was no oxygen on planet earth! This will be fun. Thank for all the research and the great writing.
Looking forward to this series since the evolutionary process seen via the vast time scale is fascinating, especially since our perception is "warped by recency bias." We really can't quite envisage what a recent phenomenon we are. Your title of this post, to use different words, says the universe is indifferent when we cry out, "Unfair!" And this is true.
I love this sort of stuff - you must have read recently that "they" have found a previously unknown pathway for oxygen creation from metallic nodules under the sea - this will have predated the cyanobacteria for sure .... what else will we discover of earth's past in the future?
No offense, but you are essentially copying "Otherlands" by Thomas Halliday. I'm not complaining, as I would love to see more exploration of what Earth was like in prehistory, but I do feel like pointing it out.
It was reading his book that inspired me to start this series actually. Absolutely fantastic writer, and will be credited as a source on some of the upcoming posts
Now that's history.
A perspective we all need to keep in mind along with "Pale Blue Dot"
"Rock was there from the beginning." Nice!
You make it all seem breathtaking, as it is, of course. We're just not always capable of feeling it. The thought of these remarkable beginnings are almost too much to comprehend. We're these tiny, inconsequential beings who want so much to matter in the scheme of things, and when we see where we fit in, we realize we're here and then we're gone. We're basically nothing.
But carry on. I can take it. And you do it so well...
There’s something about recognising the fact we’re tiny, inconsequential beings quite liberating
I suppose. That's what Carl Sagan was trying to tell us all throughout 'Cosmos'. It's not that we're insignificant, it's that the universe beats us all to hell when it comes to significance.
It's humbling, yet, as you say, freeing.
This is the kind of "big history" I would love for people to understand better. The comparisons (history vs humanity; human existence vs life) are grasped by far too few humans alive today.
This will be a good series :)
Very excited for this series! And exactly the same reason I’m so fascinated with earth science.
Everything you write about, Mikey, is so fascinating!
You bring this very remote history to life beautifully!
I love this stuff. The smallest bits of information rock everything you thought you knew. I recall when I first grasped that until those tiny photosynthesisers began belching out oxygen (as waste from the photosynthesis process) there was no oxygen on planet earth! This will be fun. Thank for all the research and the great writing.
Looking forward to this series since the evolutionary process seen via the vast time scale is fascinating, especially since our perception is "warped by recency bias." We really can't quite envisage what a recent phenomenon we are. Your title of this post, to use different words, says the universe is indifferent when we cry out, "Unfair!" And this is true.
I think you can either find that indifference freeing or terrifying, and the former seems healthier!
Agreed!
Beautiful written, you touched my soul. Thank you.
And, who would know that that simple, early organism, bluey-green cyanobacteria, would become such a regular plague to Walden Pond?? ;)
I love this sort of stuff - you must have read recently that "they" have found a previously unknown pathway for oxygen creation from metallic nodules under the sea - this will have predated the cyanobacteria for sure .... what else will we discover of earth's past in the future?
I didn’t know that, very cool!
Absolutely wonderful. I love how you bring these facts alive for us.
No offense, but you are essentially copying "Otherlands" by Thomas Halliday. I'm not complaining, as I would love to see more exploration of what Earth was like in prehistory, but I do feel like pointing it out.
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0593132882?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au
It was reading his book that inspired me to start this series actually. Absolutely fantastic writer, and will be credited as a source on some of the upcoming posts