Former NASA astronaut on the Overview Effect: why the economy is not the main thing for humanity.

Overview Effect and Paradigm Shift

According to ТСН: Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in orbit and completed over 2800 orbits around Earth, shared his thoughts on the "Overview Effect," which significantly influenced his perception of global issues — from economy to ecology.

In his interview with the media platform Big Think, Garan explained that the "Overview Effect" is a cognitive shift experienced by astronauts when they see Earth from space as a fragile "blue marble" surrounded by a thin layer of atmosphere.

"From the window of the ISS, I saw flashes of lightning that resembled paparazzi lights, and an aura that seemed so close it could be touched. But most importantly — I saw the striking thinness of our atmosphere that separates life from the dead vacuum," the astronaut noted.

Garan emphasized that one of the main mistakes of modern society is the faulty system of priorities, where the economy is considered the foundation of life and nature is perceived merely as a resource. From orbit, in his opinion, there are no state borders or economic indicators visible; instead, a single interconnected biosphere clearly emerges.

He also stressed that global warming and massive deforestation are not isolated problems but symptoms of a deeper systemic crisis caused by humanity's disconnection from planetary reality.

In Garan's view, humanity needs to change its development paradigm, shifting from the model "economy — society — planet" to "planet — society — economy."

Currently, Ron Garan is actively engaged in environmental activism and educational outreach, urging world leaders and the public to recognize that protecting the planet is a matter of preserving the single life-supporting system of humanity.

Garan's comments reflect the importance of changing approaches to societal development, placing ecological issues as a priority. His experience as an astronaut gives him a unique perspective that may hold the key to addressing the modern global challenges humanity faces.