So it's New Year's Eve again and that means resolutions — resolutions to stop this and resolutions to start that. We resolve to be thinner, to get stronger, to focus more, to be spontaneous. But regardless of our resolutions and regardless of our ability to achieve those resolutions, our lives on this lonely cosmic outpost, this "Pale Blue Dot," continue on. Until, of course, they don't. And that, in itself, is something to consider as we gird our loins for another of our yearly treks into resolution-land.
What, really, is the point of it all?
To answer that question you could turn to religion or you could turn to philosophy or, best of all, you could turn to Carl Sagan (with an assist from Adam Winnik and Hans Zimmer).
It may not help you with your New Year's resolutions, but it will fill you with a sense of pure wonder.
You can keep up with more of what Adam Frank is thinking on Facebook and on Twitter: @AdamFrank4
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.