A Gnat's Knowledge of the Universe

A source of great wonder is the awe-inspiring sight of the night sky. Our own back yards give us great views of the Universe, but despite these front row seats, we know very little of what it really is and how it functions. Scientists use terms like black holes, dark matter, string theory, parallel universes, antimatter, and many more. People who use them sound as if they have a pretty solid idea of what it's all about. But how much do they really know? Outside of being able to prove that there are such things as stars. comets, and planets, I don't think it's very much.

Stephen Hawking is quoted as having said, "I still believe there are grounds for cautious optimism that we may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature."

I have a great deal of admiration for Dr. Hawking and would never dare question anything he said on a matter of fact. However, this quote refers to what, I think, is opinion. I don't agree with him. Perhaps Shakespeare commented best when he said to Horatio, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

I believe the Universe is much larger and much more complex than anyone has ever given it credit for. I compare what we humans understand about its laws to what a gnat sitting on the wall in my computer room knows about Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

Even then, I think I'm giving the gnat a great deal more credit for intelligence than it deserves.