Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought that your existence is just a tiny blip in the vast universe? It’s a common feeling, but you’re not alone. There are over 7.2 billion people on Earth who share this experience. Imagine trying to count them all—it would take more than three lifetimes! By the time you finished, there would be billions more. It’s like endlessly pushing a boulder uphill.
When these thoughts become too much, take a deep breath. Think about the countless air molecules filling your lungs, even though you can’t see them. As you breathe, you might feel the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on you. Or maybe that’s just the weight of consciousness. It’s important to stay calm and face the concepts of time and scale, turning our fear of the unknown into something positive.
One way to cope is by embracing the vastness of the universe. In our everyday world, we exist somewhere between the largest and smallest things we know. From the observable universe to the tiniest particles, there’s a vast range of scales. Through technology and art, we can explore both extremes, much like Alice in Wonderland. With a bit of knowledge and imagination, we can expand our understanding of the universe.
What about time? While our lives may be fleeting moments in the grand scheme of things, we are conscious beings with the ability to think, create, and connect. By studying deep space and ancient rocks, we can witness the entirety of time up to this point. What did the clock read when life began? When our planet was formed? Is this clock counting up or down?
We’ve explored the universe beyond our limited perspective using tools like radio telescopes and x-ray crystallography. A microscope is essentially a telescope turned inside out. Understanding our place in this continuum of scale can help us become comfortable with our significance and, at times, our lack of it.
Each of us is made of atoms, but we must also accept that sometimes we are insignificant, and there are things beyond our control, whether in the far reaches of space or in our immediate surroundings. There is freedom in that knowledge; it can lift some of the weight that comes with being a thoughtful, feeling human. Do you choose to dwell in that insignificance, or do you find wonder in it?
A daily dose of perspective can serve as a remedy for the fear of the unknown. Jason Silva refers to this as “awe as therapy.” This feeling can be difficult to articulate, but the Japanese have a word for it: “yugen”—an awareness of the universe that evokes deep emotional responses. This feeling connects us more profoundly with the world we inhabit.
Perhaps, like me, you experience these emotions and marvel at the scale of time and space, yet struggle to express your feelings beyond a mix of sounds that convey your awe. Big or small, the universe is a remarkable place. Thank you for exploring with us! Let us know your favorite way to experience the scale of the universe, and stay curious!
Research and create a timeline that spans from the Big Bang to the present day. Include major cosmic events, such as the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets. Present your timeline to the class and discuss how these events relate to the concept of time and scale in the universe.
Using everyday objects, create a scale model of the solar system. Calculate the relative sizes and distances of planets from the sun. Present your model to the class and explain how this activity helps you understand the vastness of space and our place within it.
Write a reflective essay on the concept of insignificance in the universe. Discuss how this perspective can be both daunting and freeing. Share your thoughts with a partner and explore how embracing insignificance can lead to personal growth and a sense of wonder.
Create an artwork that represents the Japanese concept of “yugen”—an awareness of the universe that evokes deep emotional responses. Use any medium you prefer, such as painting, drawing, or digital art. Present your artwork to the class and explain how it captures the essence of “yugen.”
Use online tools and apps to explore the universe, such as virtual planetariums or space exploration simulations. Document your findings and experiences in a digital journal. Share your favorite discoveries with the class and discuss how technology enhances our understanding of the universe.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Today we’re going to have an existential exploration! [music] Do you ever find it challenging to get through your day, knowing that no matter what you do, your existence is just a brief moment in the vastness of the universe? I try to find comfort in the fact that there are 7.2 billion other thinking, living human beings on Earth who share this experience. But then I think about trying to count them all, and I realize it would take me more than three lifetimes. By the time I finished, there would be billions more to count, and I feel like I’m endlessly pushing a boulder uphill.
So, I take a deep breath, as I start to feel overwhelmed, and I picture the countless air molecules filling my lungs, which is something I can’t truly visualize. And as I think about air, I begin to feel the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on me. Or is that just the weight of consciousness? We must remain calm and confront the concepts of time and scale, transforming our fear of the unknown into something more positive!
We do this by embracing the vastness of the universe. Here are some of my favorite ways to do that. Links are down below. In our everyday world, we exist nearly equidistant between the largest and smallest things we know, with a vast range of scales from the observable universe to the tiniest particles.
Through technology and art, we have the ability to explore both extremes, like Alice in Wonderland. We can expand our understanding of the universe with just a bit of knowledge or imagination. What about time? Yes, I may be a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things, but I am a conscious being with the ability to think, create, and connect.
By studying deep space and ancient rocks, we witness the entirety of time up to this point. What did the clock read when life began? When our planet was formed? Is this clock counting up or down? We have explored channels of the universe beyond our limited perspective, using tools like radio telescopes and x-ray crystallography. A microscope is essentially a telescope turned inside out.
Is this helping? Do you feel a little better? By defining our place in this continuum of scale, we can become comfortable with our significance and, at times, our lack of it. Each of us is made of atoms, but we must also accept that sometimes we are insignificant, and there are things beyond our control, whether in the far reaches of space or in our immediate surroundings.
There is freedom in that knowledge; it can lift some of the weight that comes with being a thoughtful, feeling human. Do you choose to dwell in that insignificance, or do you find wonder in it? A daily dose of perspective can serve as a remedy for the fear of the unknown. Jason Silva refers to this as “awe as therapy.”
This feeling can be difficult to articulate, but the Japanese have a word for it: “yugen” – an awareness of the universe that evokes deep emotional responses. This feeling connects us more profoundly with the world we inhabit. Perhaps, like me, you experience these emotions and marvel at the scale of time and space, yet struggle to express your feelings beyond a mix of sounds that convey your awe.
Big or small, the universe is a remarkable place. Thank you for watching! Let me know your favorite way to experience the scale of the universe in the comments, and be sure to subscribe for more great science content every week from It’s Okay To Be Smart. Stay curious!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while ensuring it is appropriate for all audiences.
Universe – The totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space; the cosmos; macrocosm. – Scientists continue to explore the universe to understand the fundamental laws that govern its existence.
Existence – The state or fact of having being, especially independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with nonexistence. – Philosophers have long debated the nature of existence and whether it is defined by perception or reality.
Consciousness – The state of being aware of and able to think and perceive one’s surroundings, thoughts, and existence. – The study of consciousness challenges scientists and philosophers to understand how subjective experiences arise from neural processes.
Time – A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future. – The concept of time is central to physics, influencing theories about the universe’s origin and fate.
Scale – A relative level or degree of something, often used to measure or compare phenomena in science and philosophy. – When considering the scale of the universe, human life can seem both significant and fleeting.
Insignificance – The quality of being too small or unimportant to be worth consideration, often used in philosophical discussions about human life in the vast universe. – The insignificance of individual existence in the grand scheme of the cosmos is a recurring theme in existential philosophy.
Perspective – A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. – Gaining a broader perspective on life can help individuals find meaning and purpose beyond their immediate concerns.
Freedom – The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint; often discussed in ethical and philosophical contexts. – The concept of freedom is central to debates about moral responsibility and the nature of human agency.
Knowledge – Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. – The pursuit of knowledge drives scientific inquiry and philosophical exploration, seeking to unravel the mysteries of existence.
Yugen – A profound awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words, often explored in aesthetics and philosophy. – The concept of yugen in Japanese aesthetics captures the ineffable beauty and mystery of the natural world.
