What's Out There

“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.” - Stephen Hawking

[whats-out-there]

“The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. In a cosmic perspective, most human concerns seem insignificant, even petty. And yet our species is young and curious and brave and shows much promise. In the last few millennia we have made the most astonishing and unexpected discoveries about the Cosmos and our place within it, explorations that are exhilarating to consider. They remind us that humans have evolved to wonder, that understanding is a joy, that knowledge is prerequisite to survival. I believe our future depends on how well we know this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the morning sky.”

— Carl Sagan, Cosmos

[humanoidhistory]

April 4, 1983 – The Space Shuttle Challenger streaks through the sky on its maiden flight.

[luxuryfirst-deactivated20140101]

[feistiest]

“The study of the galaxies reveals a universal order and beauty. It also shows us chaotic violence on a scale hitherto undreamed of. That we live in a universe which permits life is remarkable. That we live in one which destroys galaxies and stars and worlds is also remarkable. The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent to the concerns of such puny creatures as we.”

— Carl Sagan, Cosmos (via whats-out-there)

[just--space]

A moonless starry night over Botswanas Baobab trees By Hendri Venter

js

[whats-out-there]

In four thousand million years of earth history, I am lucky enough to be alive today. In five million species, I was fortunate enough to be born a conscious human being. Among six thousand million people on the planet, I was privileged enough to be born in country where the ‘word’ was discovered. In all of the earth’s history, biology and geography, I was born just five years after the moment when, and just two hundred miles from the place where, two members of my own species discovered the structure of DNA and hence uncovered the greatest, simplest, and most surprising secret in the universe.

Matt Ridley, Genome

[whats-out-there]

Darwin’s historic work showed that we were very likely related in an evolutionary sense with all the other beasts and vegetables on the planet. And there remain many people who are enormously offended by this idea.

Carl Sagan (via whats-out-there)

[artandspirituality]

[singingmountain]

Great Trango Tower, 1st ascent of Bushido, August 2013

[abiding-in-peace]

If we take good care of ourselves, we help everyone. We stop being a source of suffering to the world, and we become a reservoir of joy and freshness.

Thich Nhat Hanh, in “How to Love”. (via abiding-in-peace)

[spaceexp]

This is the final surface image from NASA’s Spirit rover captured March 1, 2010. All communication ceased 3 weeks later.

via reddit

[currentsinbiology]

West Sumatra, Indonesia

Two snails perch on the head of a frog in west Sumatra.

Photograph: Riau/Barcroft Images

[whats-out-there]

Far more species have become extinct in the history of the Earth than exist today; they are the terminated experiments of evolution.

Carl Sagan, Cosmos

[nelmst]

Primate Climate

I never stop being amazed at how human apes can appear to be.

[whats-out-there]

I think the atheist outlook is actually a beautifully optimistic one. It’s an amazing thing to cast aside your faith because you found beauty in reality. It’s powerful to know that we are the product of billions of years of evolution, and we overcame mind-boggling odds to get to the point we’re at today. It’s motivating to me that because this is the one life we have, and that there is no afterlife, that we have to make the most of the years that we’re alive and we have this ability to do amazing things. And it’s inspiring to me that I get to create my own purpose in life. There’s nothing negative about the atheist message.

Hemant Mehta

(via

luminaughty

)

[ultimate-passport]

Myanmar

[natural-selections]

Here’s an incredible photo - this is a baby albino green sea turtle! It hatched on an Australian beach in 2016!

It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 hatchling Green Sea Turtles will survive to adulthood, sadly this beautiful animal faces even greater challenges than most. The loss of natural camouflage leaves albino wild animals more vulnerable to predators and makes them significantly more visible to their prey.