I went to space and discovered an enormous lie | Ron Garan
What astronaut Ron Garan saw in space changed his life forever – here’s what it taught him.
Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ►
Up next, Neil deGrasse Tyson: 3 mind-blowing space facts ►
A curious phenomenon often occurs when astronauts travel to space and look out on our planet for the first time: They see how interconnected and fragile life on Earth is, and they feel a sudden responsibility to protect it.
Astronaut @RonGaran experienced this so-called “overview effect” when he first saw Earth from space. When he looked out on the planet, he saw an iridescent biosphere teeming with life, all protected by a remarkably thin atmosphere.
What he did not see was the thing that society often gives top priority: the economy. For Garan, seeing Earth from space revealed problems like global warming, deforestation, and biodiversity loss are not disconnected. They are the symptoms of an underlying flaw in how we perceive ourselves as humans: We fail to realize that we are a planetary species.
Learn more about Ron Garan ►
Read the video transcript ►
0:00 The lie humanity is living
1:28 Escaping Plato’s cave
2:15 What astronaut’s see in space
4:07 The orbital perspective
4:50 The ‘dolly zoom’: gain mental altitude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Ron Garan:
Former NASA astronaut, serial entrepreneur, humanitarian, and highly decorated combat fighter Ron Garan racked up 178 days in space and more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits between tours on the US Space Shuttle, Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and the International Space Station. During his time in space, Garan conducted four spacewalks in support of ISS construction and maintenance. Prior to those space journeys, he lived and conducted research on the bottom of the ocean in the world’s only undersea research lab, Aquarius.
Before reaching the summit of his career, Garan, a former test pilot and graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School, taught hundreds of elite fighter pilots how to “up their game“ as a flight instructor at the prestigious USAF Fighter Weapons School, the Air Force version of TOP GUN. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books: The Orbital Perspective, Floating in Darkness: A Journey of Evolution, and the children’s book, Railroad to the Moon. Garan is celebrated not just for his research in space but also for his humanitarian contribution to life on Earth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more of our stories on the overview effect:
The overview effect is another reason to speed up space exploration
►
William Shatner cried upon returning from space. The “overview effect” explains why
►
The awesome power of awe: How this neglected emotion can change lives
►
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Big Think | Smarter Faster™
► Big Think
The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century.
► Big Think
Make your business smarter, faster:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want more Big Think?
► Daily editorial features:
► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox:
► Facebook:
► Instagram:
► Twitter:
1 view
1022
323
1 month ago 00:04:14 1
Paramore: Decode [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
1 month ago 00:00:32 1
…but the people are retarded
1 month ago 00:04:12 2
Stuart Townend - Christ Be In My Waking
1 month ago 00:27:21 1
When Shoegaze Meets Electronica
1 month ago 00:06:43 1
Shrooms on N313 soviet oscilloscope
1 month ago 00:02:03 1
d4vd - “Remember Me” (from Arcane Season 2)
1 month ago 00:00:37 1
I AM KIRA || Death Note
1 month ago 00:04:14 1
The Hunter - Bloodborne (4K UHD 2024)
1 month ago 00:00:00 1
The Bloody Beetroots - This is Blood feat. N8NOFACE & Teddy Killerz (Official Music Video)
2 months ago 01:00:00 1
Toolroom Radio EP763 - Presented by Alex Preston
2 months ago 01:04:50 1
ANA VIDOVIC - LIVE CONCERT - LAMBRECHT – CLASSICAL GUITAR EVENTS
2 months ago 00:03:50 1
Vana - BEG! (Official Music Video)
2 months ago 00:03:28 1
Nemo - The Code (LIVE) | Switzerland🇨🇭| Grand Final | Eurovision 2024
2 months ago 00:03:57 1
Don Toliver - BROTHER STONE (FEAT. KODAK BLACK) [Official Music Video]
2 months ago 00:02:10 1
Glockenspiel - “Corpse Bride Theme“ Lesson by Project Musica 🎶
2 months ago 00:02:20 1
BOOTHILL ’Burnice’ MV
2 months ago 00:04:50 1
Motionless In White - “Immaculate Misconception“ Official Music Video
2 months ago 00:34:46 1
Мой опыт крещение огнем🔥Митрополит Никодим.
2 months ago 00:00:00 1
BIZZARE - FORBIDDEN TO THE PUBLIC ADVANCED MULTI-STORY PRE-FLOOD COMPLEX 4K
2 months ago 00:00:44 1
Finding out that Suzuran’s mom is married
2 months ago 00:05:42 1
#ABBA-The Singles-The First Fifty Years-A HUGE disappointment.