In their hearts most people are still living in an imagined universe, where space is simply emptiness, stars are scattered randomly, and common sense is a reliable guide. In this imagined universe, we humans have no special place and often feel insignificant. But today's golden age of astronomy is revealing that this lonely understanding of the universe is misguided. Our universe is rich, fascinating, and meaningful, and in it we humans occupy an extraordinary place.

Joel R. Primack, a professor of physics at the University of California Santa Cruz, has done foundational research in cosmology. He and his team use some of the world's biggest supercomputers to simulate the evolution of the universe, and they compare the results with observational data. He has recently chaired the Forum on Physics and Society of the American Physical Society, as well as the Committee on Science, Ethics, and Religion of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a coauthor of Advice and Dissent: Scientists in the Political Arena and his latest book "The View from the Center of the Universe" is a must read if you inhabit this planet.