We can see only 4% of the universe

We often think we know so much, and I suppose we do - we know a tremendous amount, about very little. Human beings still don't understand the elementary physics (and by elementary I mean fundamental and basic, not simple) of gravity. Where and how and why do particles and matter get their mass? Maybe if we could figure this out, we could solve weight loss (though not necessarily changing girth!)

Watch this fascinating video on 'the biggest scientific project ever' - an atom-smasher coming online tomorrow, which is an effort to understand how mass originates, and whether the hypothetical 'God particle' does exist. The experiment is taking place deep underground on the French border.

I think when a scientist says we know only 4% of the universe, it is analogous to the fact that we only see a very limited amount of what is out there.

Bees and other insects can see well into the ultra violet range, jumping spiders can sense infra red along with snakes. In the case of snakes infra-red is less seen than it is sensed, since Infra-red heat itself is infrared light. Snakes sense heat in glands on their snouts.

Interestingly it is in the ultra violet and ultra ultra violet aspect of the electromagnetic spectrum that you find the most energy, and we simply can't see any of it. If you think about our attempts to harness energy, based on our 'what you see is what you get' philosophy, the whole idea of using solar energy (essentially infra-red) means you're using the lower end of the energy spectrum.

So why not design devices that harness the higher more vigorous energies like Gamma rays and ultra violet. Imagine putting foils up on the moon or elsewhere in space that serve the energy needs of planet Earth. Expensive - certainly, but only over the short and medium term.