We—I write we, but I really mean they (They, the astronomers)—have found 19 black holes in the Milky Way. Probably, the galaxy has more. Probably, we will find them, measure their mass and rotation, and discover more about their nature. We, Earthbound Homo sapiens, the observers.
We’re not all interested in black holes. That’s true. No doubt most of us don’t even know what a black hole is. With regard to these strange celestial phenomena, millions of humans have more pressing matters on their mind, matters like food, water, shelter, and maybe relationships. Nevertheless, we—the astronomers—keep searching and studying these distant phenomena.
We, to continue, have also detected fast radio bursts. Again, a bit of a mystery. No one really knows what causes them. Could they be emissions from intelligent beings spread throughout the galaxy? Are they just natural burps in the electromagnetic spectrum caused by fidgety stars that might have swallowed a planet? Are they the product of some as yet un-thought-of brief process?
Feel a bit ignorant about the stuff that encompasses you? Getting signals that aren‘t clear messages? Trying to figure out what this life is all about? It’s time to just observe, to look around at the wonders that also encompass you.
We seem to be surrounded by unknown numbers of black holes and fast radio bursts that befuddle us. Sure, we can pretend to know it all. We can say we live in a world without mystery, but then every so often we find something unexpected, inexplicable, maybe a bit frightening, and once in awhile beautiful.
Let me take you to a place with a wide vista. Let’s stand on a mountain and survey a wide swath of the planet, the sky, and beyond. Let’s watch a sunset of oranges, pinks, and purples. Watch the light spread beneath some clouds on the western horizon. Pretty glorious sight, eh? Of course, it’s a fleeting display. Let’s call it a fast solar show. The light fades as the sun sets; the pink and orange turn more gray. Then the blackness swallows it all.
Those distant mysteries of fast radio bursts and black holes are fascinating for those interested in celestial matters. For the rest of us, there are closer ones that require no special radio or optical telescopes. Just a pair of curious eyes facing west in the evening. Every evening a different sunset, changing colors fading into blackness. Sure, there are spectacular phenomena “out there” in the far reaches of the galaxy and in other galaxies. But we don’t have a dearth of such phenomena on Earth. This is, when we think about it, not a bad place to live. Aren’t you glad you chose this planet?
We’re not all interested in black holes. That’s true. No doubt most of us don’t even know what a black hole is. With regard to these strange celestial phenomena, millions of humans have more pressing matters on their mind, matters like food, water, shelter, and maybe relationships. Nevertheless, we—the astronomers—keep searching and studying these distant phenomena.
We, to continue, have also detected fast radio bursts. Again, a bit of a mystery. No one really knows what causes them. Could they be emissions from intelligent beings spread throughout the galaxy? Are they just natural burps in the electromagnetic spectrum caused by fidgety stars that might have swallowed a planet? Are they the product of some as yet un-thought-of brief process?
Feel a bit ignorant about the stuff that encompasses you? Getting signals that aren‘t clear messages? Trying to figure out what this life is all about? It’s time to just observe, to look around at the wonders that also encompass you.
We seem to be surrounded by unknown numbers of black holes and fast radio bursts that befuddle us. Sure, we can pretend to know it all. We can say we live in a world without mystery, but then every so often we find something unexpected, inexplicable, maybe a bit frightening, and once in awhile beautiful.
Let me take you to a place with a wide vista. Let’s stand on a mountain and survey a wide swath of the planet, the sky, and beyond. Let’s watch a sunset of oranges, pinks, and purples. Watch the light spread beneath some clouds on the western horizon. Pretty glorious sight, eh? Of course, it’s a fleeting display. Let’s call it a fast solar show. The light fades as the sun sets; the pink and orange turn more gray. Then the blackness swallows it all.
Those distant mysteries of fast radio bursts and black holes are fascinating for those interested in celestial matters. For the rest of us, there are closer ones that require no special radio or optical telescopes. Just a pair of curious eyes facing west in the evening. Every evening a different sunset, changing colors fading into blackness. Sure, there are spectacular phenomena “out there” in the far reaches of the galaxy and in other galaxies. But we don’t have a dearth of such phenomena on Earth. This is, when we think about it, not a bad place to live. Aren’t you glad you chose this planet?
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