A Finite Universe, A Deep But Simple Puzzle, The Hero's Journey, and More

What’s popular this week in Nautilus. [View in browser](| [Join Nautilus]( EDITORS' CHOICE Did a friend forward this? [Subscribe here.]( This Sunday, read the latest and most popular stories from Nautilus [READ NAUTILUS]( [ASTRONOMY]( [Could the Universe Be Finite?]( It’s not absurd to think the universe might endure forever. BY ERIC SCHWITZGEBEL & JACOB BARANDES On recent estimates, the observable universe—the portion of the universe that we can detect through our telescopes—extends about 47 billion light-years in every direction. [Continue reading →]( [Cheers to Glenfiddich, Our Newest Partner 🥃]( [Glenfiddich]( and Nautilus have partnered to bring readers a unique experience of science and culture. Glenfiddich has refined its distilling process over 130 years to create a product of unmatched quality. [Join the Glenfiddich Collective]( to receive personalized content, exclusive invites to tastings and VIP events, and be the first to hear about limited releases, new collaborations, and the latest news. [SIGN UP HERE TODAY]( WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW... Out of the two trillion or so galaxies that exist, how many do you suspect harbor a spacefaring civilization? Let us know! Reply to this newsletter with your response, briefly explaining your choice, and we’ll reveal the top answers. (This question was inspired by [“The Cosmic Web and the Fate of the Universe.”]() Top Answer to Our Previous Question (On a Meaningful Experience That Got You Rethinking Your Life Story) - I visit with a magnificent 90-year-old woman weekly. She is going blind, so I have started to read her favorite poetry to her. However, after your article, it is time to weave her life together, as there must be so many ups and downs to witness, so she can see the beauty and tenacity and glorious parts of herself. – Susan L. Popular This Week [HISTORY]( [Tesla’s Pigeon]( An inventor, a bird, and a plan to connect all the minds in the world. BY AMANDA GEFTER [Continue reading →]( [PHILOSOPHY]( [This Simple Philosophical Puzzle Shows How Difficult It Is to Know Something]( If knowledge isn’t justified true belief, what is it? BY BRIAN GALLAGHER [Continue reading →]( The latest from Nautilus [ASTRONOMY]( [Hello, Jupiter!]( Striking images of the planet, its volcanic moon Io and its trippy atmosphere. BY KEVIN BERGER [Continue reading →]( [PSYCHOLOGY]( [We Can Be Heroes]( The transformative power of seeing your life as a hero’s journey. A reporter’s eyewitness account. BY ADAM PIORE [Continue reading →]( [“The mere 47 billion light-years we can see is the tiniest speck of a smidgen of a drop in an endless expanse.”]( [Eric Schwitzgebel considers how plausible it is that the universe—or whatever our universe is “in”—will exist forever.]( From The Porthole—short sharp looks at science [ENVIRONMENT]( [How Dust Could Help Solve Crimes]( Hold the vacuum cleaner! There’s evidence in those motes. BY KATHARINE GAMMON You can put back anything but dust,” says fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in the British TV drama Sherlock. “Dust is eloquent.” [Continue reading→]( Your free story this Sunday! [HEALTH]( [The Bittersweet Science]( Boxing is reputed to fight Parkinson’s Disease. I put on the gloves to find out. BY MARK MACNAMARA The notion of boxing as the “sweet science” is often thought to have been coined in 1956 by the great New Yorker writer A.J. Liebling. [Continue reading for free→]( EXCLUSIVE MEMBER CONTENT | [Explore Memberships→]( [Bid on an Exhibition of Ocean Science and Art]( Following the conclusion of Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, Nautilus is offering some of the showcased art for sale, with proceeds supporting Mobilize for the Ocean. Mobilize, in partnership with UNESCO, is devoted to building a community for ocean conservation and fundraising for organizations endorsed by the UNESCO Ocean Decade. The collection includes two framed prints by Rodrigo Thome, [EYE CONTACT]( and [MOTHER OCEAN](displayed at Frost Science. The auctions for these original photographs conclude on December 22nd. They are available for overnight delivery in the U.S., subject to an additional charge. Gayil Nalls' olfactory art piece, [World Sensorium: OCEAN](, exhibited at Art Basel Miami Beach, is available in a limited first edition of 75. To celebrate the interconnection between space and ocean, we have limited edition prints of Nicole Stott's [THE WAVE](. This piece, the first watercolor painted in space aboard the ISS in 2009, was showcased at the Nautilus/UNESCO lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach. Sales from these prints will benefit both the Space for Art Foundation, as well as Mobilize for the Ocean. [VIEW FULL ARTIST AT SEA CATALOG]( P.S. The 19th-century mathematical physicist William Thomson (better known as Lord Kelvin) died on this day in 1907. One of the fathers of thermodynamics, Thomson once caused Darwin to become aghast when he suggested an age for the Earth much too young—between 20 and 400 million years—to leave enough time for Darwin’s idea of evolution to take place. The biologist wrote to his friends saying something had to be wrong, Aaron Hirsh wrote. “But he didn’t know what was wrong—and [this was Thomson he was contradicting.](” Today’s newsletter was written by Brian Gallagher Thanks for reading. [Tell us](mailto:brian.gallagher@nautil.us?subject=&body=) your thoughts on today’s note. Plus, [browse our archive]( of past print issues, and inspire a friend to sign up for [the Nautilus newsletter](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 NautilusNext, All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from [nautil.us](. Our mailing address is: NautilusNext 360 W 36th Street, 7S, New York, NY 10018 Don't want to hear from us anymore? [Unsubscribe](