Chuck DarwinOne of the great accomplishments of the space program had nothing to do with the science of space.
Instead, the impact came from the images and impressions that the astronauts sent back to Earth.
The most famous of these is “The Blue Marble,” an image of the earth from space taken in 1972.
It is one of the most reproduced images ever made, and it had (and continues to have) a powerful effect.
It’s a reminder that the home we share is small, isolated, and fragile. It is an example of how discovery and a new perspective have the power to bring us together.
It’s the same with embryonic development.
It is impossible to spend any time thinking about embryos without being filled with a profound sense of awe and connection.
The details of this shared experience are as foreign to most people as the image of the Earth was before 1972.
We are deeply interconnected with our fellow humans, and the animal world, through this shared rite of passage.
Embryonic development is a journey so fundamental to our lives that we cannot help but be bonded together through its details.