Have you thought about space?
Imagine the first time you learned about the megalodon, the giant whale shark that lived during prehistoric times. To understand something that size once existed is a feat the human brain struggles to comprehend. It's the same thing when you think about the size, and mystery, of space. The first time you learn about the space between stars is an eye-opening experience, and it only gets crazier from there.
Reddit user, u/zjaf, wanted to hear the horrifying truth when they asked:
What's the scariest space fact/mystery in your opinion?
Surrounded By The Mechanical Bed We Made
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Here's one closer to home. The Kessler Effect is the theory that a single destructive event in Low earth orbit could create a cascade where satellites break up into tiny fragments taking out other satellites, breaking up into smaller fragments and so on, until the earth is completely surrounded by a massive cloud of tiny flying death shrapnel which would make leaving this planet almost impossible.
If you look up how much space debris there is already up there and how many satellites currently orbit, plus the continued growth of the commercial space industry... I think about it a lot.
Just A Whole Lot Of Nothing
Super massive voids.
Some as big as 330 million light-years in diameter. 330 million light years of almost nothing, no stars, no galaxies, no planets.
A Little Farther Every Day
People think that the universe is expanding and more stuff is added but that's not the case.
New stuff isn't being added, the universe is just being stretched out slowly. Every minute that passes space travel becomes a fraction less likely. And in a google, the universe will have stretched so thin that there is nothing left
Lurking Out In The Inky Dark
The dark forest theory as a answer to the Fermi paradox.
If i remember correctly it's from a sf book trilogy,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Forest
It's the idea that we don't see signs of civilizations in space because all civilizations that revealed themselves on a astronomical level got destroyed by other malvolent aliens lurking silently.
Then you remember the voyager probes and all thoses signals we send to space!
Every Time You Think About Lightyears Your Brain Dies A Little
Lightyears.
The fact that I can't move as fast as light. Even if I could, I wouldn't live long enough to last the journey.
Such a tease.
Galactic Bumper Cars
The fact that the galaxy closest to ours, Andromeda, is heading our direction at a speed of about 200 miles per second, and one day the two will collide, possibly launching our solar system into deep space in the process.
Ha-Ha-HaYeahbuwhat?
MOBILE
BLACK HOLES
To put it in perspective it's exactly the kind of thing we'll never know about.
Because if there was one heading straight toward us, we would be so uneqivacoly f-cked the absolute best-case scenario is to just engage in global information suppression and murder anyone who finds out so that the rest of the population don't descend into whatever chaos realizing we're all going to die and there's nothing that can be done to stop it, would occur.
I think the only thing we could do is literally move the planet and/or solar system out of it's way.
That's the most realistic thing we could do.
boomscThe Ultimate Influencer
A... thing... that affects the motion of galaxies for hundreds of millions of light years.
It Could Be Anything. It Could Even Be A Boat.
The Bootes void.
An area of space where there should be 50,000 or so galaxies (compared to other areas of the same size) but there's only about 60. Could just be empty space for some unknown reason, or it could be an ever expanding intergalactic empire using Dyson spheres. Also I think it appears to be growing but that could just be galaxies moving away from the void
Edit: so it turns out it's 2000 and obviously it's not gonna be aliens but the theory is still cool af
We Might Already Be Gone
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Vacuum decay is one of the scariest concepts to me. We don't know if it exists, and we won't know until it's too late.
On the other hand, you'll never know. You'll just blink out of existence one day. So nothing to worry about.
Perfection Or Coincidence?
Total Solar Eclipse and its existence.
Explanation:
It sheer coincidence and perfect match.
Coincidence: The size of Moon and Sun as perceived from Earth is exactly the same. So then moon gets in between Earth and Sun, it almost completely covers the Sun. There is no scientific reason that they should appear to be of the same size from here. Infact, we have not found this phenomenon anywhere else till now. Fun Fact, in next 600 million years, the moon would have drifted so far apart that we will not be able to see any total solar eclipse after that. We are lucky to have borne in that small window of time to witness it.
Perfect: The size match between Sun and Moon is amazingly perfect. It is neither too much, nor too little. Infact, the match is so perfect, that astronomers used total solar eclipse to watch and study Sun's Corona, the sun's atmosphere (consisting of mostly hot ionised gases called plasma) which remained uncovered by the Moon's shadow.
The amazing level of coincidence and perfect match makes me wonder 'at times' of an intelligent design.
What Can Stop A Nebula?
The coldest thing to ever exist is half a kelvin degrees. Thats near zero. Half a kelvin is almost -274.15 degrees C which is absolute 0. Mothing can move and nothing can happen.
This thing that is almost [impossible] to move? A F-CKING NEBULA. I find it [terrifying] that a nebula formed from a star (fact check me if I'm wrong of course, I'm not an encyclopedia) which is MILLIONS of degrees, could be cooled down to almost absolute zero.
Let's Do Some Math! For Fun!
Its vastness.
If you become a 100 years old, that's 100*365*24*5 = 4380000 or 4.4 million kilometers that you could walk, if you walked 5 km/h, every day, all day.
Now here's the kicker:
Mars is 141 million kilometers away from us. We can barely walk 3.1% of the way.
If we ran 25km/h, every day all day, we would be 15.5% of the way.
We wouldn't even be able to go to the nearest f-cking planet.
Even walking to the moon would take us 8.77 years. Running? Just a measly 1.75 years
Even taking the car with 100km/h (62 miles/h) would take us at least 160 days to the moon, assuming no breaks, of course.
Think Billiards, But In Space
Rogue planets: Planets that do not follow any given orbit.
They may have been in an orbit at one time, but now they refuse to "play by the rules."
They were most likely knocked out of their orbit by another body, and now they are set on doing the same.
Back2BachHa-Ha-Ha-HaThat Was So Close...
Astronomer here! There are a lot of things posted here that are not really likely to happen any time soon or affect your life on Earth much. So, if you want something to worry about, may I introduce you to the Carrington Event of 1859. Basically Carrington was a scientist who noticed a flash from a huge cluster of sunspots, which was the biggest coronal mass ejection from the sun ever recorded (aka a ton of material ejected from the sun at high speeds). It hit Earth within a day- aurora were seen as far south as Hawaii, wires on telephone poles burst into flame, and telegraph operators even reported contacting each other when not connected.
If a similar event were to strike Earth today, it would cause billions of dollars in damage, because blown transformers are super hard to replace and a lot of satellites wouldn't be able to handle it (and it goes without saying you'd have a serious radio blackout for a bit until it ended on a ton of essential frequencies).
The crazy thing about the Carrington event though is we really have no idea how often such events happen. But we do know that in 2012 there was a Carrington-level solar flare that barely missed Earth...
We're Just So, So, So Small...
This visual that either shows how slow light speed is or how vast space is, depending on which way you look at it.
I've seen videos showing the scale of the universe before, but this one really hit home for some reason. The speed of light, the fastest speed possible, looks painfully slow when you look at it in the context of even a fraction of our solar system. We're stuck here, aren't we?
SERIOUSLY. Bigger Than We Could Possibly Imagine
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The sheer distance between things. It's scary and somewhat depressing.
It often blows my mind when I look up at 2 stars that look super close together and realise they are probably just as far apart from each other as they are to us.
When you look up at the night sky (in any urban areas or those with sufficient light pollution...) The stars you see (think the constellations and other bright stars) with the exception of the super bright blue A-Type stars, they are usually no further than 500 light years away.
The biggest, brightest (non A-Type) star in our typical (night) sky is also one of the biggest discovered in our galaxy: Betelgeuse. At 541 light years from earth is it the furthest star in the Orion Constellation.
Those A-types I mentioned, can be seen to about 2000 light years away.
Our galaxy is between 70,000 (main core of stars and the limbs) and 150,000 (the outliers before you get to the clouds (other galactic remnants from old collisions) ) light years across.
Only seeing those stars that are 500 light years in radius gives us less than 1% of our galaxy to light up our night.
Space...
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When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
south park wedding GIF
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
homer simpson episode 23 GIF
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
Disney World GIF
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.