It should be clear to everyone that the way we observe the universe is to receive light from distant stars through our eyes, and then our brains convert these light signals into scenes that we can understand.
But, have you ever wondered what we see in the past?
What we see is the past
This is not a strange statement, but a conclusion with scientific evidence.
We know that the speed of light, while it may seem fast, is quite slow on a cosmic scale. Light can only travel 300,000 kilometers in a vacuum in a second, which is already astronomical for our daily life, but in the vast universe, it seems insignificant.
Imagine that our galaxy is 100,000 light-years in diameter, which means that it takes 100,000 years for light to travel from one end of the galaxy to the other.
The overall diameter of the universe is estimated to be as high as 93 billion light-years! This means that many of the stars we see in the night sky are no longer there, and we have no way of knowing what they look like today.
It's like when we call a friend on the phone, and we hear what he said a few milliseconds ago, even if he's telling something that just happened, what we're hearing is in the past.
The same is true of the universe, where we see the stars as they were, not as they are in the present moment.
We look up at the starry sky with longing eyes, but we can only glimpse the past, but we cannot truly understand the changes in the present. It is no wonder that some people lament that everything in the universe is false, and what we see is just an illusion.
Speculating on the present and future of the universe using the scientific method
We may never be able to truly see the present of the universe with intuitive eyes, because the speed of light is limited, and all we see is the past. But this does not mean that we have completely lost the possibility of understanding the current state and future of the universe. On the contrary, it is through the power of science that we can better understand the mysteries of this vast universe.
When we think of science, the first thing that comes to mind is the seemingly obscure laws of physics. But in fact, these laws are the key to our understanding of the changes in the universe.
For example, the theory of relativity, which describes the propagation of the speed of light, explains why we cannot directly observe the current state of the universe. The laws of gravity and thermodynamics outline the overall evolution trend of the universe for us.
By analyzing these physical laws, we can deduce what some celestial bodies look like in the present and how they may change in the future.
Of course, the laws of physics alone are not enough, we also need to harness the power of mathematical modeling.
The so-called mathematical model is the use of some abstract mathematical formulas and expressions to simulate the complex relationship changes in the universe. For example, we can predict various possible future outcomes based on known cosmic parameters, such as density, temperature, and speed of movement, through computer simulations. This not only allows us to have a deeper understanding of the universe, but also provides a basis for human beings to explore the unknown.
In addition, astronomical observations are also an important channel for us to understand the universe.
Through various advanced telescopes and detection instruments, we can obtain various signals from all parts of the universe, such as spectroscopy, infrared, radio waves, etc. These signals may not be visible to the naked eye, but they contain a wealth of information about the composition, temperature, and movement of these distant stars.
With this first-hand information, we can further analyze and predict the present and future of the universe in combination with the laws of physics and mathematical models.
Therefore, although we cannot observe the true face of the universe with our own eyes, as long as we continue to follow the pace of scientific exploration, we can still unveil this mysterious door step by step. From the laws of physics to mathematical modeling to astronomical observations, the combination and mutual confirmation of various scientific methods will surely open a door to the truth of the universe for us.
The seemingly eternal starry sky is actually constantly changing
When we look up at the night sky, we will find that those shining stars seem to be there all along, hanging quietly in the sky, giving people a sense of eternity and immutability. But is that really the case? Are the zodiac signs we are most familiar with really set in stone?
In fact, each star has its own unique trajectory.
They are not stationary, but they are constantly rotating and revolving. The Milky Way as we see it is only a small collection of stars, and the entire galaxy is moving forward at an alarming rate. The movement of these stars is formed by gravity, and they attract and interact with each other, causing galaxies, asterisms, and even individual stars to change constantly.
For example, the Big Dipper, which we are most familiar with, is not forever.
In the last 2,000 years alone, the relative positions of these stars have changed significantly. Going back tens of thousands of years, they would even be arranged in a completely different way.
In addition, some stars themselves are dying, while others are slowly forming. Therefore, the starry sky we see with the naked eye is actually a never-ending dynamic picture.
But why is it so hard to detect these changes? It's a matter of distance. Even if the position of a star changes slightly, it is so far away that even in the past few hundred years, the change in position is only a tiny amount that is difficult to discern with the naked eye.
As mentioned earlier, it takes 100,000 years for light to travel from one end of the galaxy to the other, and almost all the stars we observe look like they are in the distant past.
It's like when we watch a movie, and although the frame changes rapidly from frame to frame, our naked eye can only capture a smooth continuous picture. The same is true of the universe, where the starry sky we see remains relatively stable, but only because the time scale we observe is so short.
If we can speed up the passage of time, we believe that the starry sky is constantly changing, and the familiar patterns of stars are slowly changing.
The dynamics and meaning of human exploration of the universe
When it comes to the meaning of human exploration of the universe, I think the most fundamental driving force comes from the unquenchable curiosity in our hearts. We are not satisfied with what we see in front of us, we are always eager to discover more unknown things and explore the mysteries of this universe. This yearning and desire for the unknown is one of the most amazing qualities of human beings.
Unlike other creatures, we not only possess extraordinary imagination, but also have a high degree of rational thinking and abstraction. This allows us to constantly discover new things and build scientific theories that have never been seen before.
From the law of gravity to the theory of relativity, from astrophysics to quantum mechanics, we are getting closer to the nature of the universe step by step. These seemingly mysterious scientific theories not only satisfy our curiosity about the unknown, but also allow us to have a deeper understanding of the universe.
More importantly, this desire to explore the unknown not only allows us to gain a new understanding, but also allows us to continue to improve and sublimate in the process.
After all, we are exploring not only the mysteries of the external world, but also our own mysteries. When we compare ourselves with celestial bodies and galaxies, we will cherish and respect this unique universe more.
Therefore, the motivation for human beings to explore the universe not only comes from curiosity, but also from our pursuit of our own cognition and value.
Although we are only a speck of dust in this universe, we have the most unique intelligence. Let's continue this exploration, use reason and curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the universe, and use science and imagination to discover a new world!
[The picture is from the Internet, if there is any infringement, please contact to delete]
If you like my articles, please "follow" me and I will create better ones. If you have any thoughts on the article, you can discuss it in the comment area, thank you for watching.