The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a phrase, less still, only a word of the universe’s history.
Camille FlammarionRead
What, then, is this blue sky, which certainly does exist, and which veils from us the stars during the day?
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the nature of the blue sky and its obscuring effect on the stars we cannot see during the day.
Camille Flammarion's quote invites us to ponder the beauty and mystery of the blue sky that dominates our daytime experience, while also reminding us of the stars hidden behind it. The statement hints at the idea that there are wonders and truths that exist beyond our immediate perception, encouraging us to look beyond the surface and seek deeper understanding of the universe.
In practice
During a discussion about astronomy, one might use this quote to evoke curiosity about what lies beyond our everyday view.
The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a phrase, less still, only a word of the universe’s history.
Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis: you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory.
If you want to find out anything from the theoretical physicists about the methods they use, I advise you to stick closely to one principle: don't listen to their words, fix your attention on their deeds. To him who is a discoverer in this field the products of his imagination appear so necessary and natural that he regards them, and would like to have them regarded by others, not as creations of thought but as given realities.
The atomic bomb certainly is the most powerful of all weapons, but it is conclusively powerful and effective only in the hands of the nation which controls the sky.
The basic scientific conclusions on climate change are very robust and for good reason. The greenhouse effect is simple science: greenhouse gases trap heat, and humans are emitting ever more greenhouse gases.
I think it inevitably follows, that as new species in the course of time are formed through natural selection, others will become rarer and rarer, and finally extinct. The forms which stand in closest competition with those undergoing modification and improvement will naturally suffer most.
No human investigation can be called real science if it cannot be demonstrated mathematically.
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