Heaven and Beyond
Heaven in religious contexts is the abode of God, angels, and the blessed dead, representing a state of eternal happiness. In science it refers to the sky and outer space.
Radical Uncertainty
Radical uncertainty describes situations where the future cannot be predicted—not because we lack data, but because the system itself is unknowable. It is a recognized concept in economics and decision-making, detailed in a 2020 book by John Kay and Mervyn King, and applied to events such as pandemics and major geopolitical shifts. In this article, I consider it in a broader sense, through the lens of the universe, what we do and don’t know, and how we find meaning while living with uncertainty. As innovation creates uncertainty, so too does nature, and our quest for knowledge beyond our solar system.
The latest map of the universe, released by astronomers, reveals more than 47 million galaxies. It was constructed by research teams using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona, surveying large portions of the night sky over a five-year period. Scientists investigating the mystery of dark energy are searching for the unknown force driving the universe’s accelerating expansion. No one knows exactly what it is, but since Albert Einstein, it has often been treated as a cosmological constant. The new map suggests that dark energy may not be constant after all, and could alter the ultimate fate of the universe.
It makes me feel small, insignificant, even a little foolish when I get upset about mundane problems here on Earth. This week, for example, while trying to switch to a less expensive internet and cellular plan, we managed to disrupt our service entirely. We lost connectivity. We were frustrated, even angry, at a provider that had promised so much yet still hasn’t managed to transfer our incoming calls. We weren’t just frustrated-we were dependent, and suddenly aware of it.
It was then that I began to marvel at how something as small as a cell phone, a microdot in the universe, could provoke such emotion. I thought about how remarkable it is simply to be alive on this planet, a thinking human being traveling through space.
There are roughly 100 to 400 billion stars in our galaxy. Our solar system is just one of many in which planets orbit their stars. According to NASA, even the nearest stars are trillions of miles away. One exoplanet, HD 40307g, is estimated to have a mass several times that of Earth. Another, Kepler-16b, orbits two stars-its sunsets would feature twin suns sinking below the horizon. Astronomers have identified multiple Earth-sized planets that may contain liquid water
How we integrate this knowledge into everyday life is puzzling. We behave as though we are masters of a planet that is both central and singular in the universe. We have developed a wide range of belief systems, each with followers convinced that their version explains the cosmos and listens to their prayers. Scientists generally believe that simple life may be common in the universe, but whether intelligent, technologically advanced life is widespread remains an open question. The vast number of potentially habitable planets suggests it could be, but the evolutionary steps that occurred on Earth, from single-celled to complex life, may be rare.
Without evidence, much of what lies beyond our direct experience remains speculation. Those driven by curiosity continue to explore. The Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon and push further into space. Others question why any of this should matter. Life on Earth is already difficult enough. Many people seek certainty wherever they can find it, simply to move through their days without constant unease.
A few days from now, the phone issue will be resolved-or it won’t. Another frustration will take its place. That is how life unfolds: small problems filling our field of vision. But beyond that, galaxies continue drifting apart. Light travels for millions of years just to reach us. And here we are, briefly aware of both the inconvenience and the immensity.
Yet for all the uncertainty beyond our planet, one thing is clear: this is the only home we know. Among billions of galaxies and countless stars, Earth is not important because it is central-it is important because it is ours. We argue over inconvenience while the systems that sustain us-forests, oceans, climate-shift in ways we only partially understand. Radical uncertainty does not excuse inaction. It demands humility.
We may never fully understand dark energy or distant worlds. But we understand well enough that this one is fragile. In a universe defined by uncertainty, caring for what we have may be the closest thing to certainty and responsibility we can claim.
References:
Claire Cameron, (2026) Behold! This is the largest, sharpest 3D map of the universe yet. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/astronomers-just-finished-the-biggest-sharpest-3d-map-of-the-universe-its-beautiful/
NASA Science website, (2021) How Many Solar Systems Are in Our Galaxy? NASA Science Space Place. Retrieved from https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/other-solar-systems/en/
Brennan, P. (2021) Life in the Universe: what are the Odds? NASA Science. Retrieved from https://science.nasa.gov/universe/exoplanets/life-in-the-universe-what-are-the-odds/
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Art is always for sale on my website. Heaven and Beyond is a 20” by 24” acrylic painting on cavas, framed. Available at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/1662380/heaven-and-beyond#/
The Rightfully Mine Series can help you better understand this world and how to care for it. They are thrillers based on facts that will keep you page turning. The Water Factor follows the plight of a Native American Reservation who contracted with a corporation that steals their water, and the young man who takes it upon himself to do something about it. Antheia in the Thorns follows a woman who emerges from depression after the loss of her child, fighting for the right to clean air and an unpolluted ocean.
Eichinger books are available on AMAZON.
