We behave as though we are masters/mistresses of the Universe and our arrogance may be our undoing. What are we really?

Homo sapiens (joke?) is a species which, until very recently in geological terms, comprised isolated groups of opportunists surviving in a hostile environment, feeding on whatever plants, roots and fruit became available, plus animal protein from an occasional kill or the abandoned prey of a superior carnivore. Only recently has the further development of a type of brain which can think and plan allowed we humans to survive in ever greater numbers and shape our surroundings to suit ourselves. It remains to be seen whether this evolutionary anomaly will persist and we survive our destructive tendencies.

For, despite all our bravado and self-belief, we are still confined to the fragile surface of a minor rocky world and totally dependent on the energy radiating from our star, the Sun. And this unremarkable star is only one of a billion in the Milky Way galaxy, and our galaxy one of an uncountable myriad in the Universe. Despite all this, and even with the knowledge of our insignificance, we continue to boast our relevance. Furthermore, not content with claiming to be superior animals, we invent stories and beliefs that claim to explain our existence, and how we are the most important beings in the Universe. And then we fight amongst ourselves over the relative importance of natural differences in skin colour and sexuality.  Life has likely been a one-off event in the Universe, and H.sapiens a bizarre outcome of primate evolution. Isn’t it time for a little humility?