littlelazer's tumblog

Tyson compared the elemental composition of our bodies to the abundance of elements in the universe: a close match. This union between ourselves and the cosmos could offer some solace for the feeling of insignificance astrophysics could bring. “The universe is in us,” he said. After ninety minutes, Tyson was at last done. The audience gave him a standing ovation, after which he was hustled from the auditorium to a pavilion, where people who had bought a ticket could eat their Portobello mushrooms in the same room as Tyson, and ask him still more questions—whether the laws of physics can change over time (probably not), whether the universe was fine-tuned for our existence (no, the universe is out to kill us).

I’ve been saying for a while now that nature is trying to kill us. Apparently it’s even bigger than that. I’m a little sad that I don’t have kids old enough to hear and be inspired by him right now. Hopefully he’ll still be around for a long time to come.