There must be enormous numbers of planets around the stars in the many galaxies in our observable universe. We may be sure that wonderful things are happening on these planets that the human race never will observe.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the vastness of the universe and the likelihood of unknown wonders existing on distant planets.
Jim Peebles emphasizes the enormity of the universe and suggests that with countless planets orbiting stars across galaxies, there are bound to be extraordinary phenomena occurring beyond our perception. This statement invites us to reflect on the limits of human observation and to appreciate the mysteries of the cosmos that remain hidden from us.
In practice
During a lecture on astronomy, to inspire wonder about the universe.
We often say that our science is objective and accurate, but we don't often say that our science is incomplete - that although the established parts of natural science are very well tested and the evidence makes a compelling case for things being as they've been described, there nevertheless are open questions that we cannot answer.
Innovation is everyones responsibility, not just R&Ds.
But in practical affairs, particularly in politics, men are needed who combine human experience and interest in human relations with a knowledge of science and technology. Moreover, they must be men of action and not contemplation. I have the impression that no method of education can produce people with all the qualities required. I am haunted by the idea that this break in human civilization, caused by the discovery of the scientific method, may be irreparable.
An experiment is a question which science poses to Nature and a measurement is the recording of Nature's answer.
We fly to 106 kilometers. We've always had as our mission that we always wanted to fly above the Karman line because we didn't want there to be any asterisks next to your name about whether you're an astronaut or not.
The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from an investigation of the governing physics.
I'm convinced that sending people to Mars is so expensive that if you go once and bring the people back and then go again and bring the people back, we're eventually going to run out of money. But what if we send people the first time and they don't come back? What if they stay there?
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