Inevitability
For hundreds of years we looked up at the sky guessing and supposing and pontificating that surely there must be other planets out there. But we couldn’t prove it. Nor could we count the stars; they were too many. And their manyness told us there must be so many that it’s impossible for there not to be other stars and planets like ours. But we couldn’t prove it.
Then in 1992 we confirmed the first exoplanet. And in 2009 Kepler was launched. Now, already more than 100 more planets have been discovered. Not only have we discovered other planets, the process has now become commonplace. (So goes the nation.)
“It’s inevitable.” I’m sure thousands, if not millions, of human beings echoed these six syllables aloud before 1992. Looking up at the sky, looking for other planets, and muttering it to themselves in a moment of hopeful desperation. Or with others in a moment of convincing delight.
And they were right.
And before them more things were inevitable: traveling into space, discovering DNA, proving heliocentrism. And after them even more things are inevitable: artificial intelligence, a world without poverty, Earth-like planets outside our solar system. And the crucible the latter will inevitably deliver: extraterrestrial life.
And we’ll be right too. It’s inevitable.
