Curiosity Unbound: Exploring Earth’s Skies and Beyond

Embark on a voyage of intellect and wonder with me, Stephen McHugh, as I steer you through the captivating realms of flight mechanics and celestial marvels. My fascination with the Aerobie ring's aerodynamics interweaves with my autism to fuel an unquenchable curiosity, leading us from the physics of soaring to the awe-inspiring sights of the Andromeda galaxy. This episode is a testament to the power of a curious mind, where my personal musings on Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, exemplify the rich insights that come from a relentless pursuit of knowledge. 

As our expedition reaches its heartfelt finale, I extend a sincere token of gratitude for the companionship and unwavering support of each listener. The journey of discovery is one of collective joy and personal triumph, a sentiment I hope has resonated with you, regardless of where you fall on the spectrum. Continue to nurture your inquisitive spirit and join me in the ongoing adventure that is learning. Stay connected, subscribe for more stellar content, and remember—every question answered is a step closer to enlightenment.

Thanks for listening. You can find me on my website stephensevolution.com, or on twitter here. You can sign up to receive news of new episodes when they're released here.


Artwork produced by Elena Designe
Music composed by Nela Ruiz

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 3:06 Personal Examples
• 6:44 Autism and Exploration
• 9:40 Impact on Understanding Autism
• 17:50 Advice and Reflections
• 22:10 Closing Thoughts

Transcript

Introduction:

[Intro Music]

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Stephen’s Evolution Podcast, where I delve into the lived experiences of life with Autism. I'm your host, Stephen McHugh, and I'm delighted to have you join me for another fortnightly exploration of topics of interest to me.

As someone  with autism , I've made it my mission to share my journey and insights through this podcast, with the hope of inspiring hope and understanding in those walking a similar path. For me, each episode is a window into my world, where I aim to offer glimpses of triumphs, challenges, and moments of reflection.

In this episode, I’m going to dive deep into a topic that's been on my mind lately: the intersection of my inquisitive nature, and how it influences my experience with autism. I've always been someone who’s liked to ask questions. I have been seen as naturally inquisitive. I like to ask questions about the world around me, about the intricacies of nature, and about some of the "hows" and "whys" of the universe, and both the physical and natural world.

Throughout this episode, I aim to explore how this innate curiosity shapes my perspective on life, and how it has influenced my journey with autism. I’ll delve into the mysteries of the natural world, examining the forces that govern it, and pondering the wonders of the cosmos. It's a journey of exploration and self-discovery, and I'm excited to share it with you in this episode.

So, get ready for an episode filled with interesting  insights and reflections. Thank you for tuning in, and now, let’s get stuck into the fascinating world of curiosity and autism together.

Personal Examples:

From a young age, I remember that I've always found myself interested in the wonders of nature, and the creatures that inhabit it. Birds, with their ability to defy gravity and take to the skies, captured my interest like nothing else. I remember marvelling at their graceful flight, wondering at the mechanics behind their aerial manoeuvres. It is through this I developed a fascination with flight.  When I discovered an Aerobie ring, one fact that astonished me about it was its ability to fly, and  soar to incredible distances.  I think the record was around about a quarter of a mile. I was just amazed at its ability to travel much farther than the traditional Frisbees I was already familiar with. Looking back, this sparked my curiosity about the physics of flight and aerodynamics.

Another area  of interest that ignited my curiosity was astronomy. It was the vast distances of space, measured in light-years. This fascinated me to no end. When I found out that light travels around about 186,000 miles, or 300,000 kilometres per second, multiplying this by the number of seconds in a year, and you get the distance in miles and kilometres. I therefore found myself drawn to the extremes of the universe, eager to comprehend the unimaginable scales at play here. I would spend time calculating distances in miles and kilometres, just to try to grasp the sheer magnitude of the universe, our cosmos. 

Optical instruments like telescopes became my portal to the heavens. They allowed me opportunities to peer at the moon, planets, and distant stars, and one galaxy, which I know to be Andromeda, pondering the mysteries of the universe. The thought of journeying through space, exploring its infinite depths, filled me with wonder and curiosity.

Looking back at these times, I realise that these early interests were more than just passing curiosities—they were the building blocks of my intellectual development. They helped to lay the foundation for my future explorations, and fuel my thirst and desire for knowledge and understanding. Each new  fascinating discovery and fact I encountered only served to deepen my understanding and knowledge, and propel me towards greater depths of understanding.

Exploration and Autism

And now, onto the section of Exploration and Autism.  As someone who’s lived with autism spectrum, my journey of exploration has been deeply intertwined with my quest for understanding and knowledge. When something piques my curiosity, I find myself yearning for more knowledge and understanding, eager to unravel the mysteries that surround me. I like to ask myself questions about the hows and whys, seeking to comprehend the underlying principles behind the phenomena I may encounter. This thirst for knowledge has only grown stronger over the years, fuelled by my improved language ability and deeper understanding of the world around me.

One aspect of my exploration that stands out for me, is my inclination to examine things from different angles. One thing I enjoy doing is, delving into various perspectives, reading different sources, and weighing the opinions of all the other sources I’ve read, and may have even listened to. This approach allows me to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a subject, enriching my exploration process further. However, I also encounter challenges along the way. Sometimes I can find myself struggling to satisfy my curiosity, driven by a strong desire for perfection. This pursuit of an ideal answer or solution can be both rewarding and frustrating, pushing me to delve deeper while, at the same time, demanding patience and perseverance.

Despite these challenges, my exploration journey remains a source of immense joy and fulfilment. Each new discovery brings me closer to unravelling the intricacies of the world, enriching my understanding of myself and the world around me. For me, it's a journey marked by curiosity, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge—an odyssey that continues to shape my life in profound ways.

Impact on Understanding Autism

It is through my exploration of fascinating facts and deep dives into various subjects, that I've experienced a significant impact on my understanding of autism. One noticeable outcome has been the improvement in my knowledge and application of learned information. As I absorb new information from reading or listening, I now find myself better equipped to analyse and apply that knowledge in different contexts.

One example of this occurred while watching a program about the planets. Before a discussion about volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io, I found myself pondering the potential connection between Jupiter's massive gravity, and the moon's geological processes. Drawing upon my understanding of physics and friction, I speculated that the moon's expansion and contraction might generate heat due to friction, likely leading to the volcanic activity itself. To my satisfaction, this hypothesis turned out to be accurate, showcasing how my exploration of scientific concepts contributes to a deeper understanding of the world around me.

The recent deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has introduced new avenues for exploring the universe to scientists and astronomers, including in the search for life on planets around stars elsewhere. While I hadn't formally learned about techniques like Infrared Spectroscopy, my previous explorations provided me with enough knowledge to understand and recognise its significance. This led me to recognise the potential of identifying certain gases in the atmospheres of exoplanets, like carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen. These gases would, for me, be indicators of habitability, demonstrating how my curiosity and exploration extend beyond conventional education. Such discoveries would also be ideal building blocks for scientists and astronomers to discuss, and investigate further. 

One aspect of nature that has always fascinated me is the ability of birds to defy gravity and to take to the skies. It's a marvel of engineering, with their wings perfectly positioned to harness the forces of air and create lift. When a bird's wings are positioned in a certain way, the air flows downwards, creating an upward force greater than the downward forces of gravity. This allows them to soar effortlessly through the air.

Conversely, when a bird's wings are angled in the opposite direction, the upward force becomes weaker than the downward forces, causing the bird to descend towards the ground. And when the air flows horizontally over the wings, the upward and downward forces are balanced, resulting in level flight.

Even creatures that hover, like hummingbirds, manipulate airflow to create upward and downward forces. When a hummingbird is hovering. It's forcing air down, creating an upward force that's equal to its weight, allowing the hummingbird to remain suspended in mid-air with remarkable precision. 

This intricate understanding of aerodynamics is not limited to the natural world. When I closely examined pictures of the design of the Aerobie ring, I noticed similarities to the structure of a wing. The unique shape seemed to employ the same principles of lift generation, with air flowing over its surface in a way that creates lift and allows it to glide through the air with remarkable efficiency.

I couldn't help but wonder if this design played a role in the Aerobie ring's ability to fly great distances. Perhaps its aerodynamic profile, reminiscent of a wing, contributes to its remarkable performance in flight. It's a testament to the ingenuity of nature. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of nature and the potential for human innovation to draw inspiration from the world around us, such as in the construction of aircraft. 

Furthermore, my explorations have led me to contemplate future scenarios, such as the eventual transition of our sun into a red giant and its implications for life on Earth. And might conditions on other worlds elsewhere in the solar system become more ideal for life forms of their own to thrive, not too hot or too cold, but at temperatures where gases could exist in liquid forms, and it could be in liquids such as these that certain life forms could survive and thrive. 

These considerations of advanced scientific concepts not only challenge me intellectually, but also continue to enhance my language and communication skills. Consequently, I found myself empowered to express my creativity through endeavours like creative writing, leveraging my expanded understanding to explore new avenues of expression and communication. 

Another thing I'd like to point out is that curiosity has helped to play a part in me developing an eye for detail. An example of where I've put my eye for detail to good use was when I was researching suitable plugins for certain functionalities for my website.

In essence, my pursuit of knowledge and exploration of complex topics have not only deepened my understanding of autism, but also facilitated my personal growth and expression. I believe that through curiosity and exploration, I've discovered new dimensions of myself and the world, paving the way for continued learning and self-discovery. 

Advice and Reflections

During my journey of exploration and self-discovery, I believe I've learned a few valuable lessons that I'd like to share with you in this section of advice and reflections. Firstly, I encourage you to seek out relevant communities where you can connect with like-minded individuals who may share your interests and passions, whether it's joining online forums, social media groups or local meet-ups, surrounding yourself with a supportive community can provide valuable insights, encouragement and opportunities for growth.

For me, mathematics has always been another source of fascination, along with science, and I enjoy challenging myself with maths puzzles and problems. Social media platforms have become a playground for me to both test and measure my progress. Recently, I felt inspired to create and think up my own maths questions, like devising complex codes using combinations and permutations involving uppercase and lowercase letters, along with a choice of symbols. For me, it's a rewarding way to flex my mathematical ability and push the boundaries of my understanding. However, it's important to remember that perfection is not the goal. Mistakes are inevitable, but at the same time, they're also valuable learning opportunities. 

I've come to embrace the fact that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and they shouldn't be feared or avoided. Take, for example, the initial flaws discovered in the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope. Despite this setback of spherical aberration causing the blurred images, the mistake was acknowledged, investigated and ultimately corrected, and the result ground-breaking discoveries that continue to shape our understanding of the universe. It's a reminder that mistakes, when approached with curiosity and a willingness to learn, can lead to incredible breakthroughs, as in the stunning images following the correction of the spherical aberration shortly after the Hubble Space Telescope's deployment. 


Another piece of advice I've learned from my experiences is the importance of balance. Whether it's researching deep into topics of interest or creating podcast episodes, finding the right balance between too much and too little is key. I've learned to respect the attention spans. I've learned and recognized the need to respect the attention spans of any listeners by offering options to any sections that may be of interest to them, thus demonstrating flexibility and consideration for their time. 

In concluding this section, I now take the opportunity to encourage you to embrace curiosity, seek out communities of support and approach challenges with the willingness to learn and grow. Remember, it's not about being perfect. It's about the journey of discovery and the lessons learned along the way. 

Closing Thoughts

In concluding this section, I now take the opportunity to encourage you to embrace curiosity, seek out communities of support and approach challenges with the willingness to learn and grow. Remember, it's not about being perfect. It's about the journey of discovery and the lessons learned along the way. And now, as we approach the end of this episode, let's take a moment to reflect on the fascinating journey we've embarked on together. 

Throughout this episode, we've explored together the profound influence of curiosity on my experience with autism, from my fascination with the natural world to my ongoing quest for knowledge and understanding. Curiosity has been an important and guiding force in shaping my perspective on life. It's a reminder that embracing curiosity can lead us down interesting and unexpected paths of discovery and growth. 

I want to extend my gratitude to each and every one of you for joining me on this exploration of curiosity and autism, if you've chosen to do so. 

Any support and engagement can mean the world to me, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to share my journey with you. And as I wrap up, I want to now leave you with a simple but powerful message. Keep asking questions, seeking answers and embracing your own unique paths of exploration, whether you're on the autism spectrum or not. 

Curiosity for me is a gift that can enrich our lives in many ways. If you'd like to stay connected with me and continue the conversation, you can find me on Twitter. You can find a link to my Twitter account at the footer of my website, stephensevolution.com. 

Additionally, you can contact me via the contact page of my website, and if you wish to stay in the loop with all things podcast related, don't forget to click on the stay in the loop link towards the footer of the homepage of my website. By signing up here, you'll receive news of newly released episodes and other podcast related updates straight to your inbox. Once again, thank you for tuning in. Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning and keep embracing the beauty of curiosity. 

[Closing music]