frontiers

I was born in the mid-70s, grew up in the 80s.  We all thought we'd be astronauts.  We all thought we'd be able to go to space whenever we wanted some day.

I was up yesterday when the space shuttle landed. It was hot. I couldn't sleep. I wanted to watch it.
It was sad. For me, probably for a lot of people.

In Jacob's school they are focusing on planets and stars this month.  He draws me solar systems.  A circle for the sun and eight loops with little planets on each on one side of the paper.  On the other side, he draws me a circle for the sun and nine loops with little planets on each.  "This side has old-fashioned science", he tells me. "So you don't get confused because I know in the olden days they thought there were nine planets, so that's probably what you learned".

Research methods change. The way we go about things changes.  Science changes.

Not actual science, of course, that never changes. But our knowledge and scope and understanding of it.  And that's okay.  It keeps us going.  Learning.  Wondering.  Guessing.  Thinking eggs are good for us or terrible.  That sort of thing.

My child was born in the mid-00s and will grow up in the 10s.  He will probably not grow up thinking he'll be an astronaut some day. Won't think he'll be able to go to space whenever he wants some day.