A Perspective on the Universe: Big, Small, and Mostly Empty

Let’s take a moment to marvel at the universe. Not just the vast, star-studded cosmos we imagine when we watch a space documentary narrated by someone with a deep, soothing voice—but also the universe within us. You know, the one made up of trillions of cells quietly working away to keep us alive while we forget where we left our keys.

Here’s a fun fact: the universe and our bodies have something in common. They’re both mostly empty space. In other words, you and I are basically glorified cosmic air. Feel free to tell that to anyone who takes themselves a bit too seriously.

The Universe Inside: Your Body Is Mostly Empty

Let’s start with a single atom. Picture the nucleus—the atom’s dense centre—as a grain of rice. The electrons orbiting it? They’d be flying around somewhere three football fields away. And what’s in between? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

If you scaled an atom up to the size of a stadium, the nucleus would be a marble sitting at midfield, and the electrons would be nervously orbiting somewhere near the hot dog stand. The rest? Empty space. And yet, when you clap your hands, they don’t pass through each other. Why? Because of electromagnetic forces. In other words, your hands aren’t really “solid”—they’re just really good at pretending.

Now, zoom out to the scale of the human body, composed of 37 trillion atoms. That’s a lot of rice grains and a lot of empty space pretending to be solid. You’re essentially a walking cosmic illusion.

The Universe Outside: Also Mostly Empty

Now let’s zoom out to the solar system. If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, Earth would be a tiny pebble about 100 feet away. The nearest planet, Mars, would be a little farther down the street (but still too far for Amazon same-day delivery). And the nearest star? That’s about 4.24 light-years away. If you’re wondering how far that is, imagine a road trip that takes 50 million years. You’d need a lot of snacks.

What fills the space between these celestial objects? Once again: nothing. The universe is mostly empty, punctuated by the occasional star, planet, or rogue asteroid wondering where everyone else went.

So… Why Don’t We Fall Apart?

If both the universe and our bodies are mostly empty, why don’t we just dissolve into a cosmic puddle? The answer lies in forces—gravity out there, electromagnetic forces in here. These forces hold everything together, from galaxies to grocery bags.

But here’s the thing: just as the universe is held together by invisible forces, so are our daily lives. Relationships, conversations, that fragile thing we call “society”—all held together by forces you can’t see but definitely feel.

Perspective Shift: You’re Cosmic Dust with a To-Do List

Thinking about all this might give you a bit of an existential crisis. “Wait, I’m just a collection of atoms floating in space?” Yes. But you’re also a very organized collection of atoms floating in space, capable of thinking, laughing, and occasionally binge-watching TV shows.

Here’s what I find comforting:

• The universe is vast, mysterious, and mostly empty, but you are part of it.
• Your problems, though valid, probably don’t matter to a black hole 1,000 light-years away. And that’s freeing.

So, next time you’re stressed about an email or a parking ticket, remember: you are a highly sophisticated clump of cosmic particles, navigating the universe one breath at a time.

Empty, But Not Meaningless

Being mostly empty doesn’t make the universe—or us—meaningless. In fact, it’s what makes everything possible. The space between things allows for movement, growth, and connection. If everything were solid and packed tight, nothing would happen. No stars would form, no planets would orbit, and no one would awkwardly shuffle past each other in grocery store aisles.

It’s the emptiness that gives life room to exist.

Cosmic Takeaway: The Big and the Small Are the Same

The next time you gaze up at the stars or feel overwhelmed by life’s tiny dramas, remember this: the universe, in all its vastness, is not so different from the cells in your body. Both are mostly empty. Both are held together by invisible forces. And both are, in their own way, miraculous.

So, breathe deeply, stretch out into that vast space inside you, and know that you’re not just a passenger in this universe—you are the universe. A tiny, self-aware part of it, wondering where the car keys went.