To challenge the perception of a small world, consistently approach strangers in foreign cities and ask if you know them. Expect most to respond negatively, reinforcing the idea that connections are rare and the world is vast. Through repeated interactions, you'll confront the reality that familiarity is often coincidental rather than common, highlighting the true breadth of human experience.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, and host of "StarTalk Radio." His newest book, "Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization," is available now. www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/
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