Neil deGrasse Tyson Prompts Ruminations on Life & Death

Credit: Pexels.com

If any stretch of the calendar makes us stop and reflect, it’s the transition into the new year, as we weigh guilt about the past against the promise of tomorrow. And perhaps, ponder the weightier questions of our existence: Is there a meaning to the daily grind? What is my purpose? And is there anything beyond my short existence on this earth? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson offers some thought-provoking answers.

In a viral video created for science outlet StarTalk, the beloved author and educator makes the case that life is, well, what we make of it. 

Host and narrator of the viral StarTalk video – acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Credit: Britannica

Approaching two million views, this video offers a stoic outlook on the human experience.

Grappling with birth and death, Tyson’s view of the human condition is glib yet comforting. He questions immortality, predicting a grim future if humans were to live forever: pollution, purgatory, overpopulation, or other possibilities.

So, he asks: Why are people terrified of death?

Without death, the familiar could go on forever — an endless horizon of certainty. From the tales of Mount Olympus to the mindful teachings of the Buddha, immortality is a fickle thing. Across religious and philosophical traditions, divine beings envy mortals. Why? Because human lives are precious, Tyson asserts, never to be taken for granted. It’s a gift to be alive, because tomorrow is never promised.

“Do you REALLY know how precious life is?” Tyson teases. He cites numerical data, estimating that 100 billion humans have lived and died on earth, and that a nonillion (that’s 1 followed by 30 zeroes) unique human variations hypothetically exist in our genetic code. Meaning your existence is unimaginably rare.

“Each of us, for all practical purposes, is unique in the universe,” Tyson observes. “Now is the time to celebrate being alive every waking moment.” 

As another new year dawns, filled with hope, intention and uncertainty, remember that you’ve been here before. You’ve conquered challenges and embraced opportunities. Anxiety about the unknown shouldn’t prevent us from enjoying the radiance of each breath, a warm hug or spending time with those we love. 

From a bird’s-eye view, Neil deGrasse Tyson challenges us to make the most of the time we have. Not just for the sake of ourselves, but for all beings. “Why not strive to make the world a better place today than yesterday, simply for the privilege of having lived in it.”