--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Space and time may have a structure as…" description: "\"Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the fauna of a rich ecosystem, but on a scale far larger than the horizon of our observations.\" — M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg" --- # Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the… ![“Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the fauna of a rich ecosystem, but on a scale far larger than the horizon of our observations.” quote by Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg) > “Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the fauna of a rich ecosystem, but on a scale far larger than the horizon of our observations.” [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Space‑time may have a complex structure like an ecosystem, but beyond our observational horizon. **In simple terms:** The universe’s structure is vast and intricate beyond what we can see. Key Takeaway Explore beyond current limits. Themes cosmology complexity scale Mood wonder introspective Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - astronomy - theoretical modeling - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts physics philosophy ecology Questions to Reflect On - How does scale affect understanding? - What can we infer about unseen structures? A Different Perspective Our models may be limited by observation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ecosystem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecosystem/) [Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizon/) [Observations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observations/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space and time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-and-time/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. 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This is a heavily wooded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/under-the-snowcapped-mountains-of-fiordland-national-park-freshwater/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [“Instead of distinct old and new media, what we have is a complex cultural ecosystem that spans the analog and digital, encompassing physical places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/instead-of-distinct-old-and-new-media-what-we-have-is-a-complex/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [On top of opportunities in further traffic growth, there are increasing opportunities to fully realize the potential of the online video ecosystem, as China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-koo/on-top-of-opportunities-in-further-traffic-growth-there-are/) [Victor Koo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-koo/) > [We are all together in this, we are all together in this single living ecosystem called planet earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-all-together-in-this-we-are-all-together-in-this-single-living/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The thing the ecologically illiterate don't realize about an ecosystem is that it's a system. A system! A system maintains a certain fluid stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-thing-the-ecologically-illiterate-don-t-realize-about-an/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I'm very privy to the way bookstores work, and I think a lot about the ecosystem that my books have been published in. 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In its attempts to reverse the processes of ecosystem degradation it runs exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/restoration-ecology-is-experimental-science-a-science-of-love-and/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/remove-the-predators-and-the-whole-ecosystem-begins-to-crash-like-a/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [“The universe is so arranged that the power to destroy the climate or the ecosystem of your home planet only comes when you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-is-so-arranged-that-the-power-to-destroy-the-climate-or/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) ## More by Martin Rees > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“The Sun contains about a thousand times more mass than Jupiter. If it were cold, gravity would squeeze it a million times denser than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-sun-contains-about-a-thousand-times-more-mass-than-jupiter-if-it/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“We, and the visible universe around us, may exist only because of a difference in the ninth decimal place between the numbers of quarks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/we-and-the-visible-universe-around-us-may-exist-only-because-of-a/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Crucial to science education is hands-on involvement: showing, not just telling; real experiments and field trips and not just 'virtual reality.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/crucial-to-science-education-is-hands-on-involvement-showing-not-just/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [I have no religious belief myself, but I don't think we should fight about it. In particular, I think that we should not rubbish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/i-have-no-religious-belief-myself-but-i-don-t-think-we-should-fight/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“More energy is needed to rise a millimetre above a neutron star's surface than to break completely free of Earth's gravity. A pen dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/more-energy-is-needed-to-rise-a-millimetre-above-a-neutron-star-s/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [The next humans to walk on the moon may be Chinese. Only China seems to have the resources, the dirigiste government, and the willingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-next-humans-to-walk-on-the-moon-may-be-chinese-only-china-seems/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [If we ever established contact with intelligent life on another world, there would be barriers to communication. First, they would be many light years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/if-we-ever-established-contact-with-intelligent-life-on-another-world/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [There is an ever-widening gap between what science allows and what we should actually do. There are many doors science can open that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/there-is-an-ever-widening-gap-between-what-science-allows-and-what-we/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [An insect is more complex than a star..and is a far greater challenge to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/an-insect-is-more-complex-than-a-star-and-is-a-far-greater-challenge/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [The physicist is like someone who's watching people playing chess and, after watching a few games, he may have worked out what the moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-physicist-is-like-someone-who-s-watching-people-playing-chess-and/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [We are 'nuclear waste' from the fuel that makes stars shine; indeed, each of us contains atoms whose provenance can be traced back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/we-are-nuclear-waste-from-the-fuel-that-makes-stars-shine-indeed-each/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Just as there are many Jews who keep the Friday ritual in their home despite describing themselves as atheists, I am a 'tribal Christian,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/just-as-there-are-many-jews-who-keep-the-friday-ritual-in-their-home/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) [Explore all 143 Martin Rees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More Ecosystem quotes > [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/remove-the-predators-and-the-whole-ecosystem-begins-to-crash-like-a/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [Restoration ecology is experimental science, a science of love and altruism. In its attempts to reverse the processes of ecosystem degradation it runs exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/restoration-ecology-is-experimental-science-a-science-of-love-and/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [Twitter can be incredibly valuable as an open communications mechanism, but if you close too many things down too quickly, if you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/twitter-can-be-incredibly-valuable-as-an-open-communications/) [Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/) > [Broadway is a closed ecosystem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/broadway-is-a-closed-ecosystem/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I'm very privy to the way bookstores work, and I think a lot about the ecosystem that my books have been published in. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-m-very-privy-to-the-way-bookstores-work-and-i-think-a-lot-about-the/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [The thing the ecologically illiterate don't realize about an ecosystem is that it's a system. A system! A system maintains a certain fluid stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-thing-the-ecologically-illiterate-don-t-realize-about-an/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [We are all together in this, we are all together in this single living ecosystem called planet earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-all-together-in-this-we-are-all-together-in-this-single-living/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [On top of opportunities in further traffic growth, there are increasing opportunities to fully realize the potential of the online video ecosystem, as China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-koo/on-top-of-opportunities-in-further-traffic-growth-there-are/) [Victor Koo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-koo/) > [“Instead of distinct old and new media, what we have is a complex cultural ecosystem that spans the analog and digital, encompassing physical places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/instead-of-distinct-old-and-new-media-what-we-have-is-a-complex/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [Under the snowcapped mountains of Fiordland National Park, freshwater streams empty into the saltwater fiords, creating a unique ecosystem. This is a heavily wooded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/under-the-snowcapped-mountains-of-fiordland-national-park-freshwater/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [There are many challenges in the global education ecosystem: from top-down systemic issues in how educational services are organized and delivered, to bottom-up issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braun/there-are-many-challenges-in-the-global-education-ecosystem-from-top/) [Adam Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braun/) > [“Of all the components of the ecosystem, humans are the only ones we know to be completely optional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-hammond/of-all-the-components-of-the-ecosystem-humans-are-the-only-ones-we/) Herb Hammond > [An artist may sustain a body of work as an ecosystem, in which every part is used to every advantage, not consuming any part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-peacock/an-artist-may-sustain-a-body-of-work-as-an-ecosystem-in-which-every/) [Jan Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-peacock/) > [“The universe is so arranged that the power to destroy the climate or the ecosystem of your home planet only comes when you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-is-so-arranged-that-the-power-to-destroy-the-climate-or/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) [Browse all 97 Ecosystem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecosystem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the fauna of a rich ecosystem, but on a scale far larger than the horizon of our observations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Rees" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-intricate-as-the-fauna-of-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ecosystem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-intricate-as-the-fauna-of-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/martin-rees-3002_ecosystem_space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-i_1080484.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Space and time may have a structure as intricate as the fauna of a rich ecosystem, but on a scale far larger…” — Martin Rees", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Rees", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Space and time may have a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-intricate-as-the-fauna-of-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/space-and-time-may-have-a-structure-as-intricate-as-the-fauna-of-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```