Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in space and traveled over 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits, has revealed a ‘sobering realization’ he had after seeing Earth from space. Reflecting on his experiences, Garan shared that humanity is ‘living a lie’—a perspective shaped by the overview effect, a phenomenon where astronauts experience a deep, often spiritual connection to the planet. Speaking with Big Think, he described witnessing lightning storms, glowing auroras, and the astonishing thinness of Earth’s atmosphere,
which led him to a profound conclusion: “That paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive.” What struck him most was not the global economy but rather an iridescent, life-filled biosphere, making it clear that humanity’s systems prioritize economic gains over the planet’s health. Continues…
