Most people, at some point, must wonder about the universe. If not to understand why it exists, then at least to understand why they exist in it. As we learn more about the world around us, the more we understand our place within it. We exist during a unique moment in an incredibly long evolutionary history. A history that involved not simply the evolution of life, but that of elements, minerals, planets, intelligence, and consciousness. In this frightfully expansive universe, a complex sequence of seemingly random, yet fortuitous events led to our existence. Here. Now. At this precise moment in time.

This is not merely a scientific story, but a profoundly human one. You see without someone to share your knowledge of the world, how much do you truly know about it—or yourself? In the absence of others to validate, debate with, learn from, or teach, there is simply you and a thousand thoughts. The most important aspect of knowledge is acknowledging those willing to listen, or perhaps, disagree. It is through others that we express our thoughts, solve our problems, and develop our ideas. Without engaged listeners we lack the means to transfer, consolidate, or exchange knowledge. This is all too often forgotten when intelligence hierarchies are implicit. The pursuit of knowledge is, at its core, a pursuit of connection. This connectedness lies at the heart of all life on Earth. So, seek, wonder, and connect, while you have this unique moment in space and time.

Never lose your sense of wonder

— Tara