Everything is Connected — Here’s How: Tom Chi

Everything is Connected — Here’s How: | Tom Chi | TEDxTaipei

So; We Are One

Introduction

• Speaker Introduction:
  • My name is Tom Chi.
  • Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by understanding how the universe works.
  • This led me to my first job at 15, conducting astrophysical research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Observatory on active galactic nuclei.
• Transition to Human Focus:
  • After years as a scientist and astrophysicist, I shifted my focus to understanding people.
  • The world of people is far more complex than the universe.
  • Through my work as a technologist, inventor, and entrepreneur, I’ve learned a lot about human behavior.
• Purpose of the Talk:
  • Today, I’ll share insights about the gaps humanity faces and how we’re connected.
  • The central concept: Everything is connected.
  • This idea is present in many spiritual traditions but is often seen as abstract or unprovable.
  • I’ll demonstrate this connection in a concrete, understandable way through three stories:
    1. The story of the heart
    2. The story of the breath
    3. The story of the mind

Story 1: The Heart

• The Heartbeat and Iron:
  • Our hearts beat to circulate hemoglobin, which carries heme B—a molecule with an iron atom at its core.
  • Iron is essential for oxygen transport in our blood.
• Origin of Iron:
  • Iron is only created in the universe through supernovas and supermassive stars.
  • The universe began with no iron, only hydrogen and helium.
  • Stars formed, exploded, and created the iron that now flows through our veins.
• Star Formation and Galactic Collisions:
  • Stars form through processes like galactic collisions.
  • Hubble Telescope images show galaxies colliding, mixing gases, and igniting new star formation.
• Gravitational Dance of Galaxies:
  • Galaxies collide due to gravitational forces within superclusters like Laniakea (meaning “immeasurable heaven” in Hawaiian).
  • This gravitational dance drives star formation, creating the iron in our bodies.
• Conclusion:
  • Every heartbeat is connected to the cosmic processes of star formation and galactic collisions.

Story 2: The Breath

• The Simplicity of Breathing:
  • Taking a deep breath connects us to our bodies and calms us.
• Earth’s Early Atmosphere:
  • Three billion years ago, Earth’s atmosphere had almost no oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels.
  • Only single-celled organisms, like cyanobacteria, could survive.
• Cyanobacteria and Photosynthesis:
  • Cyanobacteria performed photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.
  • Over billions of years, they transformed the atmosphere, enabling complex life.
• The Ozone Layer and Life Explosion:
  • Oxygen buildup led to the formation of the ozone layer, protecting life from harmful radiation.
  • This allowed the Cambrian explosion of multicellular life and the colonization of land.
• Legacy of Cyanobacteria:
  • Cyanobacteria’s descendants, chloroplasts, continue photosynthesis in plants.
  • Our breath is deeply connected to plants: our out-breath is their in-breath, and vice versa.
• Reflection on Purpose:
  • Even tiny organisms, like cyanobacteria, contributed to the possibility of life today.
  • Our lives may have meanings beyond our understanding, shaping future generations.

Story 3: The Mind

• The Piano as a Metaphor:
  • The piano is a complex, nuanced instrument that allows for profound artistic expression.
  • Concert pianists dedicate significant parts of their brains to mastering it.
• The Invention of the Piano:
  • The piano was invented in 1700, a recent development in human history.
  • The skills and thoughts associated with it didn’t exist 5,000 years ago.
  • Its invention relied on accumulated knowledge in engineering, music, and culture.
• The Palette of Being:
  • We are born into a world with a “Palette of Being”—ways of thinking, creating, and existing shaped by those before us.
  • Throughout our lives, we can create new “colors” in this palette through inventions, art, and personal expression.
  • These contributions expand the possibilities for future generations.
• Interconnected Impact:
  • Our actions ripple outward, influencing society, the biosphere, and the universe.
  • Just as cyanobacteria transformed Earth, we have the potential to shape our world.

Conclusion

• The Gift of Consciousness:
  • Humans have the unique ability to understand our interconnectedness.
  • This understanding allows us to shape societies and lives with intention.
• Spiritual and Scientific Truth:
  • The idea of interconnectedness appears in spiritual traditions because societies that embrace it deepen their compassion and understanding.
  • Science confirms this interconnectedness at every level of the universe.
• Call to Action:
  • Let’s embrace this truth and challenge ourselves to live in a way that reflects our deep connection to each other and the universe.

Closing

• Final Thought:
  • Our hearts, breath, and minds are interconnected with the cosmos.
  • Let’s use this knowledge to live meaningfully and shape a better future.
• Thank You.