A Billion Year From Now

Astrophysics is perhaps the most magnificent and humbling subject to study. Just think about the scale of things. Hundreds of billions of large galaxies in the universe and our Milky Way is just one of them; each large galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars; our own Milky Way containing around 400 billion stars. (Note the usage “large galaxy” – there are trillions of other dwarf galaxies, which contains stars in the order of hundreds of millions). All these stars – baryonic matter as they are called – consist of a mere 15% of the total matter in the universe; the remaining 85% is presumed to be Dark Matter. Bring in Dark Energy into the equation and what I mentioned above – the hundreds of billions of galaxies containing hundreds of billions of stars is a mere 4%.

            In this blip – the 4% - exists a star which we call the Sun. Around the Sun are several asteroids and satellites and comets and planets – one such planet is called the Earth. In this planet are numerous forms of life; out of which one species which supposedly dominates the planet is the Homo Sapien aka Humans. (Dominates in what sense? Perhaps the destructive ability because there are several trees which live longer, several trees and animals that are larger and several micro-organisms that more numerous in number.) There are around 8 billion humans on this planet – and I am just one of them.

            For me though, this isn’t the mind boggling part. Our universe is about 14 billion years old; our Sun around 4 billion and our planet Earth around 3 billion years old. In those 3 billion years all the oceans and rivers and mountains and forests and deserts were formed. (Life was extinct around 6 times in that time period.) Humans arrived at the scene around 70,000 years back, and our history goes back around 5,000 years.

            Let us be hopeful that humankind will overcome the climate crises and forge ahead. What would happen a thousand years in the future – year 3023! What would things look like 10,000 years in the future? Imagine a world one billion years in the future...

            It boggles my mind, but don’t forget that a billion years into the future, although an unfathomable period of time for us, is just another lap for the universe. In that time the Sun would complete another 4 rounds around the Milky Way, that’s all. What would be the state of technology in that era? What our culture and civilisation would be like? What would we be like? And the most fascinating question to me, one of great philosophical import – how would humankind remember us? I take that question very personally. What would be the significance of my life, of my actions, my accomplishments, my wealth and fame, a billion years from now?

            Will my actions have any consequence? Absolutely yes! I certainly believe that my actions will have consequences (thanks to the butterfly effect) a billion years from now. What work I do, what values I pass on, how I treat the people around me and how I nurture the next generation will have a massively compounded effect a billion years from now. But... will that be remembered?

            This is the most humbling aspect. Yes, our work, our actions, the love that we spread, the kindness we show... it will have an impact. But is anybody going to remember that? All the wealth that we accumulate, the fame that we seek, the power we crave, all our seemingly glorious accomplishments in a lifetime of 100 years – what would that amount to a Billion years from now. Kind of makes you... rethink why we do what we do doesn’t it? Makes me wonder, and once again look at how I want to live my life.

For what purpose? How? Why?

 

(Hope you enjoyed this article. There are a few books that gave the insights I shared above and helped me develop this perspective:-

1.     -  Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

2.     -  Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

3.     -  Elephant in the Universe by Govert Schilling

Keep reading, keep growing)

 

Love 

2073

 

I come from a time when everything was in abundance - food, water, arable land and even fresh air! So much so that most people didn’t even know where it all came from or how much was left. I remember the time when it almost felt like we all had an Akshayapatram at our homes, where we just had to pay for it and these resources would never end. And air... we didn’t even have to pay for that! Everybody got it... limitless and free. But we also knew that this wouldn’t last. The writing was on the wall and it was very clear, we knew things would change. But when everything was so good it is a little hard to imagine. People from this era will never understand, but back in the day it was so hard to believe when somebody said that we will run out of food and water. We all happily lived in denial.

I still remember those good old days. The golden age of humanity! Where our biggest concern was that the “economy isn’t growing fast enough”, or whose religion was better. I remember people resenting the internet being too slow. It was a simpler time. The government was busy peddling propaganda and doling out fake promises and nobody worried about how the limited stock of food, water and air would be rationed amongst nations and within each nation who would get how much. Back in the day, if you had money, you could buy anything you wanted. I know how unbelievable that might sound to the kids of this generation!

“Appa, we have some food. Why don’t you eat first?” My 40 year old son called me for dinner. Few children do that now – there is a raging debate about what to do with the seniors in the world. Is it worth expending resources to those who are in their final years? While in many parts of the world the debate is out in the open, in others it is just something many youngsters keep to themselves. Either way, everybody is thinking about it. When little ration reaches the house with great difficulty, families choose to feed their children first and the seniors last. I just happened to in a really lucky household.

“You start eating, I will join you”, I respond. My son leaves the room; he too is hungry. His cheeks have sunk, his eyes are hollow and his frame is evidence of starvation. I turn to look out the window and stare at the grey skies. Down below the roads are empty; a few cars can be seen every now and then and very rarely I spot someone walking on the streets. It is not safe for humans to venture out these days, the air is thick with smoke, the weather is unbearably hot and the very frequent rains burn the skin. Practically it is not a concern, because robots and drones do most of the work, but it does take a toll on the mental health! I tell my children and grandchildren that we have to go for a walk sometime and how important it is for your mental health but they just scoff at me. They think it is stupid to worry about “Mental Health” (they always restate my words with air quotes) in such situations. They never understand how important it is though, no matter how much I explain. You see, the biggest threat to humanity right now is not the lack of resources, but the rampant violence. Reports of murders is so frequent these days; refugees are the most common victims (and sometimes the perpetrators too), but people attacking their neighbours and family members too is not uncommon. How can it not be? When the conditions are so dire, and you can’t even step outside your home, anyone would lose their mind. Even the slightest trigger could blow up.

“Appa! Food!” My son doesn’t shout... he doesn’t have the energy to. He just calls out loudly. I am hungry; I wouldn’t mind one last meal. But more importantly, I want to see my family one last time. Yet, I know that if I go down, I won’t be able to do it. And if my son finds out what I am about to do, he wouldn’t agree to it. He is stupid... he loves me too much.

I know it is the right thing to do. I am 80 years old now, and have nothing to give to the world. Only receive. And every morsel of rice that I eat could feed a child who might survive and be the hope for humanity. Our planet really needs it right now. Every last sliver of hope...

“Appa!” He shouts out again. I can feel a stinging pain grip my heart. Tears fill up my eyes. If he calls me out one more time, I will break down. Can’t wait until then; I open the bottle and gulp down the syrup. I don’t notice the flavour... just that the liquid flows down my throat and I know that in a few moments it will be over. One more burden off the planet. Before I hear my son’s voice again, I will be gone. They will be devastated, but at some level, they will be relieved too. One less person to share their food, water and air...