{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Does the Universe Have a Purpose? Exploring Human Significance in Cosmology' data-url='/boclips/videos/689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nDoes the Universe Have a Purpose? Exploring Human Significance in Cosmology\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eThe Milky way galaxy is composed of up to 400 billion stars, and at least that many planets.  Our star, the sun is one of those billions, about a third to halfway out from the galactic center. And we humans are but one of at least 9...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eThe Milky way galaxy is composed of up to 400 billion stars, and at least that many planets.  Our star, the sun is one of those billions, about a third to halfway out from the galactic center. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAnd we humans are but one of at least 9 million different forms of life on earth. What does this mean for us? Are humans of any significance, or are we just a burden on our ecosystem? How did human get here? How did life start? How did earth get here? Does the universe have a purpose? Do humans have a purpose? \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAt first blush it would seem that we are indeed a speck of dust, of no particular cosmic significance. But let’s step back and look at how we got here. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eConsider the improbability of not only finding ourselves in this universe, but the formation of such a universe that would have us in the first place. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThe universe was born 13.8 billion years ago in a massive expansion - the big bang. It could have expanded too fast such that no structures formed. It could have expanded too slow, such that it re-collapsed into a singularity. But it expanded at just the right rate. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e200 million years after the big bang the first stars formed. These were fast burning stars that burned out and exploded in supernovae explosions. They seeded the universe with heavier elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen which had formed in their cores. Our own sun probably formed from such a nebula. The heavier elements that were not consumed by the =the sun, became the leftover debris that formed the planets including earth. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eEarth was at such a distance from its star that temperatures allowed water to exist in liquid form on its surface, making it conducive for complex chemicals to form. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThrough a process we don’t completely understand yet, molecules came together to form a simple self replicating proto-cell. Over vast time frames chemistry and evolution resulted in complex life forms.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eChange the circumstances of earths early history, and we would not be here. Alter the process of natural selection and environmental stress that resulted in larger brained primates to evolve in Africa, and we would not be th intelligent creatures we are today. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAnd this does not take into account the laws of physics which allowed chemistry to happen in the universe in the first place. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eWe have won the cosmic lottery. It is not perfect nor the best it could have been for us, but the fact that we exist, even though it is for a moment, is improbable.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eWe don't know what existed before the Big Bang. Are we presumptuous to assume that ours is the one and only universe? Might there be hundreds of billions of other universes? There is no evidence nor consensus among scientists.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eExoplanet data appears to indicate that most stars have planets orbiting them. If true, it is unlikely that we are the only planet that has life. But, highly intelligent life is likely much more rare. We have seen no evidence that intelligent life like ours exists elsewhere in the universe. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eWe have not even detected simple life on any other planets in our solar system, let alone exoplanets. If intelligent life forms are common, some would have evolved millions of years ago, or even billions of years ago. If we go by the exponential progress of technology on earth, is seems at least some of these ancient intelligent aliens should have evolved the capability to detect us, communicate with us, or even visit us. This is a weak argument, but it does point to the idea that we are probably rare.   \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003ewe have come to know in just the past 500 years of our existence. If the distance from central London to times square in New York city represented the total age of the earth, all of recorded human history would be contained within the final 5 meters. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eEinstein said the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eWhat seems to make us different from lifeless objects is that through our senses, our emotions and our brains, we can connect to the rest of the cosmos. And in this regard, no living thing on earth is perhaps so deeply connected. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"4.0 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" 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Length\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e12:16\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003e12th - Higher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=365221\"\u003eScience\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e6 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543647\"\u003eInstructional 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fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eLanguage\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eEnglish\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eUsage Permissions\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eFine Print: Educational Use\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-materials-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-materials-heading'\u003eAdditional 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id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46' data-type='concepts'\u003enatural selection, light years, years, planets, stars\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46' data-type='keyterms'\u003ehow did life begin, how did humans evolve, how did humans get here, what is the purpose of life, what is the purpose of the universe, how did the solar system form, where did the universe come from, what happened at the beginning of the universe, are we alone in the universe, how did the moon form, how did jupiter save earth, theia collision, we are a speck of dust in the universe, multiverse, mote of dust, do humans have a purpose, are we stardust, meaning of life, shining, solar system, big bang, complex chemicals, 1st place, years ago, intelligent life, planet, life, improbability, expanded\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator689566e4f5a33cc1b5ec9c46'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='classroom-considerations-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='classroom-considerations-heading'\u003eClassroom Considerations\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='classroom-considerations'\u003e\u003cdiv class='fai fa-solid fa-bell'\u003e\u003c/div\u003eBest For: Explaining a topic\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class='classroom-considerations'\u003e\u003cdiv class='fai fa-solid fa-bell'\u003e\u003c/div\u003eVideo is ad-free\u003c/div\u003e \n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca 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Exploring Human Significance in Cosmology\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"Does the Universe Have a Purpose? Exploring Human Significance in Cosmology\" title=\"Does the Universe Have a Purpose? Exploring Human Significance in Cosmology\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/1776261/thumbnail/entry_id/1_kmjnodep/width/250\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}