[i]Space, the final frontier.[/i]

Well, I see the universe as something we don't understand. We look out at it, but every time we can see something new. Do I think there are other habitable planets? Yes. Do I believe there's life on said habitable planets? Yes. I believe that 100%. There are some [url=http://www.nasa.gov/ames/kepler/nasas-kepler-discovers-first-earth-size-planet-in-the-habitable-zone-of-another-star]amazing studies[/url] being done at NASA currently. They're finding other planets that could support life within our solar system. And they're finding more everyday. They're also weeding out planets that aren't giving off the right lightwaves (those that tell us what the planet's composition is). 

But life isn't the norm as far as we can tell. This [url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150515-how-weird-is-our-solar-system]article from BBC[/url] explains just how many freakish events had to happen in order for Earth to be what it is today. Since we live on this planet and have never been off of it (other than the quick jaunt to the moon), it's hard to realize just how special it is. 

Other than life as we know it, there are hundreds more things for us to learn outside in the universe. We don't know what black holes are. We have no idea why the universe is still [url=http://www.space.com/17884-universe-expansion-speed-hubble-constant.html]expanding[/url]. And it's getting faster every second. And we have no idea why. 

Or how about [url=http://www.technologyreview.com/view/427174/einsteins-spooky-action-at-a-distance-paradox-older-than-thought/]Quantum entanglement[/url]. That's some trippy stuff. I know this is weird to say, but as amateur astronomer (we're only called that because we don't have degrees) we learn how to look at space outside of ourselves as a context. Human beings only came into the universe so very recently. We're just one piece in a giant puzzle. We need to keep striving for the big picture and to not limit ourselves. 

So I guess I see the universe as amazing potential.