Part 16/23:
Greene discusses why intelligent life might be rare or commonly overlooked. He suggests that our unique evolutionary history and the vastness of cosmic time complicate the chances of contact. Still, he highlights how remarkably complex cosmic phenomena—black holes, gravitational waves, star formation—abound, and we are fortunate to observe them.
He underscores the "cosmic lottery" aspect of existence: the precise sequence of quantum events that led to our existence was extraordinary. Finding ourselves here, aware of the universe’s grandeur, is “cause for celebration,” even if our conscious life is fleeting.