• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Astronaut who realized 'big lie’ after spending 178 days in space explains how his view of the world has changed

Home> News> US News

Published 11:16 4 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Astronaut who realized 'big lie’ after spending 178 days in space explains how his view of the world has changed

NASA astronaut Ronald Garan has orbited Earth 2,842 times during which he experienced the 'Overview Effect'

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

Featured Image Credit: Big Think/YouTube

Topics: Space, Earth, Nature, Science

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

We're all 'living a lie', according to an astronaut that hurtled through space for a whopping 178 days.

I'm sure if we all spent that many days orbiting Earth at a speed of around 17,500mph then the way we see things would drastically change.

Well, it certainly did for the former NASA spaceman Ronald Garan who orbited our planet a staggering 2,842 times as he toured global shuttles - including the International Space Station (ISS).

Speaking to Big Think, he said: "When we see our planet from the perspective of space, certain things become undeniably clear.

Advert

Astronaut Ronald Garan believes we're 'living a lie' (Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
Astronaut Ronald Garan believes we're 'living a lie' (Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

"We keep trying to deal with issues such as global warning, deforestation, biodiversity loss as stand alone issues, when in reality they're just symptoms of the underlying root problem.

"The problem is that we don't see ourselves as planetary."

He explained that when he 'looked out the window' from the ISS he saw the 'paparazzi like flashes' of lightening storms, 'dancing curtains of Auroras' and the 'unbelievable thinness of our planets atmosphere'.

Advert

He continued: "In that moment I was hit with the sobering realization that that paper-thin layer keeps every single living thing on our planet alive.

"I saw an iridescent biosphere teaming with life, I didn't see an economy, but since our human-made systems treat everything including the very life-support systems of our planet as the wholly owned subsidiary of the global economy, it's obvious from the vantage point of space that we're living a lie."

Yes, the 62-year-old believes that mankind has the completely wrong outlook on day-to-day life - but it was only due to his literal out-of-this-world experience that he came to that conclusion.

Advert

The ex-astronaut turned philosopher grave a great insight into just how he envisions his new take on life.

Garan explained: "I wake up every morning on my bed, but I also wake up on a planet.

"In the long-term I'm very optimistic because I do see quite clearly a blossoming unity spreading across out planet, a blossoming awareness of our interdependent nature.

Garan states that seeing Earth from space puts into perspective how connected we are (NASA)
Garan states that seeing Earth from space puts into perspective how connected we are (NASA)

Advert

"That awareness will eventually reach critical mass, and when it reaches critical mass then we'll be able to solve the problems facing our planet."

He continued: "It should give us courage during these times to keep doing what we know to be right and to not give up hope because we are going to see the dawn.

"And when we can evolve from a two-dimensional 'us versus them' mindset and embrace the true multidimensional reality of the universe that we live in - that's when we will no longer be floating in darkness, we're going to leave the cave.

"It's a future that we will all want to be a part of - that's our true calling."

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke reveals shocking reason she didn’t attend dad’s tributes

    Brooke Oleksy shut down previous reports that she and her late father were on bad terms

    Celebrity
  • 11 hours ago

    Expert reveals the 3 common names you should never give your baby for surprising reason

    All three are strong names that are popular today, but there's a reason why this expert doesn't think you should name your child them

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    James Gunn responds to Trisha Paytas naming baby ‘Aquaman’ following bizarre Ozzy Osbourne conspiracy

    DC Studios' co-CEO has reacted to the internet celeb having named her baby Aquaman - something she revealed on the day Ozzy Osbourne died

    Celebrity
  • 13 hours ago

    Fans spot Kelly Osbourne's 'subtle' tribute to dad Ozzy as she pays her respects during his procession

    The Osbourne family and the rest of the world are grieving the loss of a rock legend

    Celebrity
  • Astronaut who realized 'big lie’ after spending 178 days in space explains how it changed his view of the world
  • Astronaut who spent 178 days in space reveals 'big lie' he realized after seeing Earth
  • NASA astronaut captures footage of mystery green flash from International Space Station
  • Astronaut who spent 178 days in space reveals man-made structure he saw on Earth which made him realize the 'big lie'