The Lens That Broke the Bible — and Unlocked the Cosmos
Dear Magicians,
Did you notice I upped the quality of my studio? I sure hope so…You can see the ‘after’ version in yesterday’s video — posted exclusively on my new “explainer channel” — please subscribe — Professor Keating Experiments.
The reason for the quality bump? I splurged on a high-quality DSLR camera and nice lens (Sony A7cII + Sigma 24mm lens for the shutterbugs out there).
But this combo, while pricey, can’t compare with some of the rigs my fellow YouTubers use. Take this gem, the Hasselblad H6D. At $32,995 (lens wipes not included), it’s the Ferrari of cameras. But is it necessary? Some say yes.
After all my video yesterday explores how a a single lens unlocked the secrets of the universe. Imagine a world where the Bible caught fire with new meaning, revealing truths that were hidden for centuries. This isn’t just a story of discovery; it’s a journey from blindness to clarity, where one invention shattered our understanding and opened the cosmos.
On the opposite side of the price spectrum from the H6D lies a box with a hole in it. Specifically, it’s called a pinhole camera.
It’s the simplest, cheapest way to capture light. No lens. No settings. Just a tiny aperture that sees everything equally; total tack-sharp focus. Want to make one yourself? Here’s how.
A pinhole camera focuses on everything. But when everything is in focus, nothing truly is.
Like trying to listen to every conversation at a party. Or reading every post on social media. Or saying yes to every opportunity.
Think about that.
Now consider the Hasselblad H6D; what you’re really buying isn’t just resolution. It’s the ability to choose what matters.
The power to blur.
To decide.
To say no.
This isn’t just about bokeh, ISO, f/ numbers….photography. Tim Ferriss nailed it: “Focus isn’t about saying yes to what matters. It’s about saying no to everything else.”
Here’s the truth about focus: it’s expensive. Not just in dollars, but in decisions. In friendships declined. In opportunities ignored. In paths not taken.
Think about it.
What are you willing to blur to bring your purpose into sharp relief?
Because anyone can see everything.
Masters choose what to ignore.
In my upcoming book “Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner” I mention how the word focus is sometimes said to be an acronym for “Follow One Course Until Successful”.
Blurbed by productivity experts like Ali Abdaal, Cal Newport, Nir Eyal, and Sahil Bloom I can’t wait to show it to you, on September 9 (my birthday as it turns out). For now, you can read the first volume of the series Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner to whet your appetite.
Today, as our attention fragments across infinite digital constellations, perhaps we need that same revolutionary focus. Not to see everything, but to see what matters. Not to capture more, but to capture truth.
Because in the end, the greatest discoveries don’t come from having the most expensive lens.
They come from knowing where to point it and not fearing to peer inside of it.
Watch “The Lens That Broke the Bible — and Unlocked the Cosmos” here.
Until next time, have a M.A.G.I.C. Week,
Brian
Appearance
I was asked to make an elevator pitch for god. I couldn’t escape the thought WWED What would Einstein do? Ahaha he’d imagine what happened when the elevator cable broke.
My essay along side other great thinkers:
Genius
Neil deGrasse Tyson drops some genius wisdom about proposed cuts to NASA in his short video essay here.
Conversation
Discover how a simple lens transformed not just eyesight, but society itself — challenging church authority, unlocking science, and changing the way we see everything from the Bible to the stars. Watch to find out how the race for clearer vision ignited a revolution that still shapes our quest for truth today!
Get the transcript and AI interactive content from this episode here
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Upcoming Episode
Prof Laura Mersini-Houghton will be on The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast soon. Laura is a renowned cosmologist and theoretical physicist known for her groundbreaking work on the multiverse theory and her predictions of anomalies in the cosmic microwave background.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the leading minds in modern physics — send in your questions for Laura Mersini-Houghton now! Submit your questions here.
