Chapter 1: The Cosmic Journey Begins

Prepare to immerse yourself in a cosmic adventure as you read this piece. If you're in the right mindset, perhaps consider playing the Interstellar soundtrack as a backdrop. I am a human residing on Earth, and I want to share a fascinating narrative with you.

Recently, I watched the initial episode of a captivating four-part documentary series titled L’Odyssée interstellaire, directed by Vincent Amouroux in 2018 for Arte. The series poses an intriguing question: Is it possible for life to develop on planets beyond Earth? It delves into this topic over four compelling episodes, offering a blend of scientific anticipation and exploration.

While I can't confirm if the series has English subtitles, I highly recommend it if you're comfortable with French.

The first episode highlights the groundbreaking work of Swiss astrophysicists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, who made headlines in 1995 with the discovery of the first planet located outside our solar system.

Here’s a brief overview from Arte:

In 1995, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz introduced Bellerophon, now known as "51 Pegasi b." This planet, situated in the Pegasus constellation and 50 light-years from Earth, marked the first confirmed exoplanet beyond our solar system. This monumental discovery transformed our understanding of the universe and paved the way for a new field of scientific inquiry. Since then, astronomers have identified over 3,000 exoplanets in our galaxy, leading to the realization that at least one planet orbits every star, with nearly a quarter potentially possessing conditions suitable for life.

One particular moment struck me profoundly when Michel Mayor utilized the analogy of an athlete preparing to throw a hammer to illustrate the gravitational influence between a planet and its star. The narrator elaborated:

At the Observatoire de Haute Provence in France, Mayor and his team devised an indirect detection method to uncover hidden worlds. Their work relied on gravitational laws, which state that massive objects exert influence over one another. Using precise telescopic observations, they detected minute shifts in a star’s position caused by the presence of a planet. Imagine the star as an athlete, the hammer as the planet, and the chain as the gravitational connection between them. The mass of the star dictates the planet’s orbit, while the planet’s motion slightly affects the star in return.

As I reflected on this enthralling cosmic journey, a connection emerged in my mind between the astrophysical phenomenon and the art of writing. I envisioned the Scribe as the athlete, the hammer as the writers orbiting the publication, and the chain representing the words and narratives crafted by these writers. How does this analogy resonate with you? We could also view the athlete as a writer and the planets as readers, all interconnected by these gravitational ties. I find this concept incredibly inspiring.

Chapter 2: The Power of Narrative

There’s a poignant story that brought me to tears, depicted in Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 film, Arrival. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it, I highly recommend doing so and sharing your thoughts on its emotional impact.

As many of us dream of discovering new worlds that may host life, we must continue to cultivate our own gravitational connections through writing. We are united by the power of words.

In the first video titled "COSMOS application strategy review," viewers explore strategic insights into navigating the cosmos of writing and publishing.

The second video, "UC COSMOS Personal Essay strategy," provides valuable guidance on crafting personal essays within the broader context of cosmic exploration.