The true story of the origin of the universe. So much more beautiful and awe inspiring than those imagined by the religions of man.

It's just a touch over eight minutes long, but do yourself a favor and sit through it sipping your coffee and just marvel at the magnificence of our beginnings.

And then afterward you can go through your day empowered with the knowledge that you are the universe searching to understand itself.

Somebody created an amazing video to go along with my favorite Neil deGrasse Tyson quote. Thought I would share.

I swear hearing this never fails to make me feel incredibly thankful for my time in this reality.

I can hardly wait to see what the universe has in store for me tomorrow.

Just a little something to ponder as you slowly drift off to sleep.

Meteor shower over Denver, Colorado

“... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the cosmos.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson, Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
 

Beloved children's tune gets a scientific tweak.

I think you know the tune:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 
I know exactly what you are 

 Opaque ball of hot dense gas 
Million times our planet's mass 
Looking small because you're far 
I know exactly what you are 

Fusing atoms in your core 
Hydrogen, helium, carbon and more 
With such power you shine far 
Twinkle twinkle little star 

Bright when close and faint when far 
I know exactly what you are 
Smallest ones burn cool and slow 
Still too hot to visit, though 

Red stars dominate by far 
Twinkle twinkle little star 
Largest ones are hot and blue 
Supernova when they're through 

Then black hole or neutron star 
I know exactly what you are 
Forming from collapsing clouds 
Cold and dusty gas enshrouds 

Spinning, heating protostar 
I know exactly what you are

I found this over at Reddit, where it was  attributed to the Girl Scouts.  I cannot find the source, but I liked this more educational version so much that I thought it was worth sharing.

Often I am asked how a person without faith deals with the fear of death, or the feeling of being alone. Personally I deal with it by realizing this....

By the way, the idea that an atheist is "a person without faith" is fundamentally flawed.

We do indeed have faith.

We have faith in our families.

Faith in our dreams.

Faith in science.

Faith in knowledge.

And faith in humanity.

That is why they call us "humanists."  And what better label could you have then one that advertises your humanness?

Personally I cannot think of one.

Just something to keep in mind as you drift off to the land of pleasant dreams.

Whenever I get arrogant I look up at the sky above me to feel humbled, and whenever I get to feeling low I look up at that same sky to remember how remarkable the universe is, and how remarkable I am for being part of it.

Namaste my friends.

You know a life really was sacrificed so that you could be here today. It may just not be who, or what, you think.

If image does not enlarge for you, just click here.

Yes I know what you are thinking.

Gryphen, stars are not people. We cannot feel a connection to them like we would with God.

Well that may be, but you know Gods are not actually people either, and at least when it comes to stars there is actual proof of their existence.

That is certainly more than I can say about other possible heavenly occupants.

And by the way, what do you think first inspired the idea of a heavenly god?

The vast beauty which inspired ancient man, is the beauty we are still witness to today. The only difference is that now we know what it is from which we receive such inspiration.