What Do We Really See

What Do We Really See?

It’s said that when we look up at the night sky, we’re actually looking back in time across the universe.*

On a simple level, it’s understandable! Human perception is somewhat framed by our current existence on the surface of a planet. As such, the concept of vision is limited to the environment where we have been able to adapt, in this case, existence on a surface. So, (providing that the muscular-skeletal functions of our neck are intact), we have two primary choices: looking up (into the heavens) or “across” to a horizon line.

But what do we really see when we look up or across? Is it all things that reflect light, or is it time itself?

Because light seems to travel relatively fast, the distance from a horizon point to the tips of rods and cones embedded in our retina is a mere fraction of a nanosecond. So, it’s almost impossible to comprehend that looking out over a field or across the surface of an ocean to a horizon line is actually looking back in time. However, when we use sound as a measurement tool, there’s no question that thunder, originating from some point out towards a horizon, arrives at the tympanic membrane of our ear much slower, indicating that a measurable amount of time has elapsed.

In my opinion, a question emerges from this: is it correct to perceive the universe as something we look “across”? Or, are we simply looking backwards “into” time itself?

Lightheartedly speaking, just as the universe evolves and expands over time, the shell of a turtle also continuously evolves and expands. So, if the shell of a turtle were to take on some sort of transparent quality, it too might behold a universe—a window into time itself.

* https://youtu.be/6akmv1bsz1M?si=AoeoNcTvfJR6UhMO

* https://youtu.be/YM-uykVfq_E?si=VdxzcKorZT04W3GE