When I was a cub, my parents took me to the London Planetarium. The original site is sadly gone, replaced by a cinema, but fortunately I was born at the right time to go! I want to say this was a birthday treat, for I remember it being dark in the evening, and somewhat cold. Mind you, it was so long ago!
Anyway, on to the show. It was amazing. I learned about the planets, the stars, and our place within them. I was also scared out of my wits when the narrator mentioned how the sun would one day expand and consume the earth. I took ‘one day’ to mean ‘any day now’, and I recall being rather upset! My parents talked me down from my place of abject, existential terror, which I now realise was rather misplaced!
Once I had calmed down, I was left with a sense of wonder, of awe. I wanted to learn more about the incredible, colourful, mystical universe we live in. The textures of the planets, the raging tempests that burn out there among the stars, and the hearts of darkness that loom large in the hearts of galaxies, are all beautiful, soul-enhancing sights.
Over the years, my interest in science has expanded beyond astronomy. The very earth itself, with its tectonics and volcanoes and landscapes, provides so much to enchant the senses. It is fair to say that the natural world is full of inspiration, and hopefully, via some of my ramblings, you might feel inspired too.