While the "Edge of Space" jump is impressive, it's somewhat scary to think that a corresponding fall to a schoolroom globe begins just 1 millimeter above its surface, amirite?
I find it scary in the sense that humans are small compared to planets, which are small compared to the stars they orbit, which are small compared to other giant stars, which are small compared to the galaxies they are in, which are small compared to the universe they're in, which is small compared to the multiverse that it may be in.
Remember that guy Felix Baumgartner, who skydived from space to break the sound barrier? If the earth were the size of a globe in a classroom, Baumgartner would have jumped from a millimeter from the surface of the globe in comparison.
The Earth is about 12000 km in diameter. The jump was about 40 km high. If you shrank 12000 km down to a globe size, the proportional decrease in 40 km would be about 1mm.
My science teacher was going over the layers of the atmosphere the other day, and to put things in perspective she pointed out about where he would have been.
We were all surprised by how low it looked on that picture.
I don't think it's scary, more so just interesting.
I find it scary in the sense that humans are small compared to planets, which are small compared to the stars they orbit, which are small compared to other giant stars, which are small compared to the galaxies they are in, which are small compared to the universe they're in, which is small compared to the multiverse that it may be in.
Good thing I'm humongous compared to you guys.
http://ctrlv.in/130829 How... are you a wizard, sir?
Nah, I noticed that too. Look around you, all new comments and posts have that O_O
I mean, yes. I am a wizard. Worship the sun. Hail mithraism!
I might just be weird but that doesn't scare me, it just leaves me with a sense of awe.
Pfft. You didn't even see it.
Confused on how this is scary.
every time you comment i imagine you saying it with the face in your profile picture.
O.o
Well that really puts things into perspective...
http://htwins.net/scale2/
I read this a while ago, but I seriously do not understand what's being said. Can someone please help me feel less stupid?
Remember that guy Felix Baumgartner, who skydived from space to break the sound barrier? If the earth were the size of a globe in a classroom, Baumgartner would have jumped from a millimeter from the surface of the globe in comparison.
Thank you Sun!! I agree with Rainboots, I needed it to be reworded. A philosophical thought is hard to get out of a 140 character tweet, I guess.
The Earth is about 12000 km in diameter. The jump was about 40 km high. If you shrank 12000 km down to a globe size, the proportional decrease in 40 km would be about 1mm.
Yeah B10ckH34d, way to make the guy feel less stupid
It's no that what B10ckH34d said didn't make sense, it's just that it wasn't exactly a dumbed down version.
Ohh... sorry. I thought he didn't get what OP was getting at. I don't know how to explain ratios without maths...
that's interesting, where does that factoid come from?
The Twitter updates of a recognised astrophysicist https://twitter.com/neiltyson
I fucking love Neil tyson man.
I love fucking Neil Tyson

Especially in deGrasse....
I'll show myself out.
I totally get the
Nice
That guy must have nerves of steel.
nerves of balls?
Now every time I see a globe i'm going to imagine little microscopic men in free-fall 1 mm above its surface.
O.O
...cool
My science teacher was going over the layers of the atmosphere the other day, and to put things in perspective she pointed out about where he would have been.
We were all surprised by how low it looked on that picture.
My teacher did the same thing.
http://ctrlv.in/130848