Who are we? If there are between 200 to 400 billion stars in our galaxy, in a universe of at least 170 billion more galaxies, we are less than a grain of sand on a beach

Have you ever watched an ant and wondered what it was thinking? They have the ability to create sophisticated colonies which compare in our world to our cities. Would a superior alien race looking down think any differently of us, as we do of ants?

Do we give the ant the respect it deserves?

If we slow right down and concentrate really hard on who we are ourselves, the 'why are we here' and 'how did we get here' questions arise. It's freaky to look outwards from your body and imagine humans as ants rushing around doing their own thing.

Comparisons are easy to make, including the tragedy’s that impact on humans during earthquakes and tsunamis. Ants have similar problems. Imagine the turmoil human settlements have on ant colonies. A farmer ploughing a field must have a similar impact on ant colonies as a meteorite strike would have on humans by taking out a whole regional centre. Irrigation events are like major tsunamis and I can only imagine how pesticides figure in this equation.

So why are we here? Our huge population has taken away the desperate need to procreate to survive.   Most human populations (outside of Africa) no longer need to have more than 7 children to provide them with old age security. As a consequence, our adaptation and evolution potential will have been indelibly affected. My son asks me all the time “are humans still evolving” and I hesitate before answering as the answer that initially comes to mind is bleeped out.

Evolution usually occurs at the moment at, or shortly after conception, as I believe adaptation is a whole other ballgame having less chance of being carried forward if it is not genetic. The success of a change is still based on the need for procreation to spread the change.

What amazes me is the complexity of life. The strands of DNA that split to form all the minute and complicated parts of the body are simply astounding. It’s one thing for all the sinews, muscles and nerves to form accurately in a knee for instance, but what a great leap it is to have all these things develop so that they move separate from each other, where and when required?

If there are between 200 to 400 billion stars in our galaxy, in a universe of at least 170 billion more galaxies, we are less than a grain of sand on a beach. This is a very lonely thought and somewhat different to the concept that existed for centuries that the earth was the centre of everything. I think we can fairly accurately state that we are not the centre of anywhere.

So here we are looking out at such a large unknown, yet a huge part of our human existence is petty squabbling, greed, injustice and a mad competition for the most material possessions. Western humans portray an embarrassing devotion at the knees of the latest bunch of “who’s who” from Hollywood royalty or music top hit list or pore over the most up-to-date copy of the stock market.

Where to from here? An alien visitor might just as well just quietly visit and leave quickly, never to return out of disappointment.

Why are we not thinking beyond our current vision?

I’m looking for a concise answer here in layman’s terms please…