--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The space that we're looking through is…" description: "\"The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional. If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/jill-tarter-29057_amount_the-space-that-we-re-looking-through-is_220497.jpg" --- # The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional… ![“The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional. If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equivalent to scooping one 8-ounce glass out of the Earth's ocean, looking and seeing if you caught a fish. No, no fish in that glass? Well, I don't…” quote by Jill Tarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/jill-tarter-29057_amount_the-space-that-we-re-looking-through-is_220497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/jill-tarter-29057_amount_the-space-that-we-re-looking-through-is_220497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/jill-tarter-29057_amount_the-space-that-we-re-looking-through-is_220497.jpg) > “The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional. If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equivalent to scooping one 8-ounce glass out of the Earth's ocean, looking and seeing if you caught a fish. No, no fish in that glass? Well, I don't think you're going to conclude that there are no fish in the ocean. You just haven't searched very well yet. That's where we are.” [Jill Tarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-tarter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our search for extraterrestrial life is minuscule compared to the vastness of the cosmos, so current null are limited **In simple terms:** Search efforts are tiny compared to the universe Key Takeaway Expand search methods and increase resources Themes exploration humility science Mood hopeful inquisitive Type inspirational scientific When to use this quote - astronomy research - funding proposals - public outreach Key Concepts probability sampling bias technological limits Questions to Reflect On - What new technologies could improve detection? - How can we allocate more resources? A Different Perspective Overreliance on current tech may miss signals ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Mathematical models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-models/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“It is extremely interesting, then, to think about the meaning of the word ‘form’ as it applies to constructions of arbitrarily complex shapes. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-hofstadter/it-is-extremely-interesting-then-to-think-about-the-meaning-of-the/) [Douglas R. 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