Have you ever wondered if you’re alone in the universe or connected to something grander? Let’s dive into that.

First off, you’re part of a group of mammals—humans, to be exact. We’re relatively new on the scene, but look at what we’ve accomplished! We build Large Hadron Colliders, split atoms, and even created Pokémon. Our roots trace back to ancient life that began around three and a half billion years ago.

Despite feeling like masters of Earth, we’re not as powerful as we think. A single asteroid or a creative virus could wipe us out. Even with our nuclear weapons, the best we could do is cause mass extinction. In the grand geological timeline, our impact is almost laughable.

We live on a tiny, wet rock zooming through space around a giant ball of burning plasma—the Sun. One day, that Sun will die, possibly taking us out with it. If humanity somehow survives that and colonizes the galaxy, we could theoretically live until the universe’s last star goes out. Beyond that, life seems pretty impossible.

But what about you, personally? Remember, you started as a single cell inside your mother’s womb. Now, you’re made up of about 50 trillion cells. These tiny biological machines are incredibly complex and follow the laws of physics and chemistry. They communicate, duplicate, and even commit suicide to keep you alive and kicking.

The blueprint for “you” lies in your DNA, a long molecule that, if unraveled, would stretch two meters. Combine all the DNA in your cells, and you’d have a string long enough to reach Pluto and back. This DNA connects you directly to your very first ancestor, dating back 3.4 billion years.

But you’re more than your DNA. Your body contains about seven octillion atoms—mostly oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. These atoms once formed stars that exploded long ago, sending their contents into space, which eventually became part of Earth. So, in a way, you are star-stuff, directly linked to the universe’s first stars.

Your body is constantly changing. Every 16 days, 75% of you is replaced. Every year, about 98% of your atoms are new. In five years, nearly all the atoms in your body will have been replaced. You are a temporary collection of these changing atoms.

We don’t fully understand what this deep connection to the universe means, but it’s fascinating to think about. You’re not alone. You never were and never will be. You’re part of something vast and incredible.