This month, 16-year-old Nathan Hellner-Mestelman – who directed, wrote, and produced the 2022 documentary short Universe Versus You screened at film festivals internationally – makes his literary debut with Cosmic Wonder: Our Place in the Epic Story of the Universe (Linda Leith Publishing). The nonfiction young adult book shares with readers the story of the making, and expanding, of the universe. 

Hellner-Mestelman spoke with Q&Q about the inspiration behind Cosmic Wonder, how engaging with the material has changed his perspective, and what he hopes readers take away from the book. 

What first sparked your fascination with the cosmos? 

Legend has it (according to my mother) that at the age of two, I spent a lot of my nursing time outside at night, and allegedly “the moon was my first true love.” However, when I was five years old, I became obsessed with the scale of the universe – I recall making a hobby out of sketching our little planet to scale against some of the largest stars ever discovered, and then proudly exclaiming to my friends and family that our planet is utterly insignificant and nothing we do matters. The nihilism bug got me young.

Can you speak about the people in your life who encouraged you to pursue your fascination?

My first introduction to astronomy was through Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Cosmos TV series – I still watch it to this day. I quickly became obsessed with the works of Carl Sagan. Later on, I took the opportunity to join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, which welcomed me into a community of passionate astronomy lovers. Through volunteering at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory [in Saanich, B.C.], I got to see the professional lives of astronomers (the only profession that has a bed and blanket inside the workplace facility – I am quite serious) and share views of the universe with the public. I owe a huge amount of my high-school curiosity to my science teacher, Neal Johnson, who often stayed after class to discuss nerdy physics problems with me.

What inspired you to write Cosmic Wonder?

Two things, on opposite ends of the happiness spectrum. The first was the international conflict that began when I was conceptualizing this book (now there are two); in addition, several fossil fuel–mining sites were being constructed in nations that are wealthy enough to transition to greener energy. The universe is so much bigger than our national borders, political doctrines, and the drive for profits – so I wrote this book in the hopes that it encourages a bigger-picture perspective in people, who have the potential for so much compassion on our little planet. The second (and happier) inspiration is the awe that comes with knowing where you are in a universe that’s larger and more complex than any of us could possibly imagine. I like to preface by saying that the author is not responsible for your existential crisis – but really, the realization of where I am in the cosmos feels like a carpet being pulled out from underneath my feet, and I have grown to love that feeling.

Cosmic Wonder is truly a tour de force. Can you take us briefly through the writing of the book? 

My resolute identity as a nerd throughout my childhood definitely fostered a foundation of knowledge about astronomy and related fields. But in researching for this book, I found myself poring over swaths of research papers on the arXiv (an open-access archive for scientific articles), scavenging discoveries that were only published in obscure journals and are not common knowledge. In addition to making some fond friends at my local university library, the research for this book made me aware that there’s a lot more happening in the scientific community than what makes it into the news. I also had the honour and amazing experience of speaking (in person and virtually) to some renowned scientists about our current understanding of the universe.

Cosmic Wonder has the perfect balance of humour. Were you trying to be funny? Or, is your sense of humour shining through? 

I think any book covering deep existential topics needs a seasoning of funniness. I try to keep a perspective on life that preserves the power of humour. Our planet is facing the threats of climate change, and the future rests on all of us – especially my generation – so I try to keep a simple truth in mind: if everyone on this planet becomes a cynical, pessimistic, existentially depressed doomsayer, then we are going to become a uselessly sad species. This book covers some immensely deep topics, but not without some slapstick ridiculousness. When we look at ourselves as a species and laugh at the absurd reality of our mistakes rather than pitifully wishing for an alternate past, that, I believe, is the path to meaningful change.

What do you do to nurture your passion for the subject matter?

I do my best to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and environmental sciences. I still volunteer at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, and can’t wait for the weekly summer Star Parties to open for public stargazing next month! I have a passion for writing both fiction and nonfiction, and astronomy is a common theme that keeps showing up. 

How has your perspective on life changed through engaging with this material?

I don’t hold grudges anymore. I make an effort to see the best in people, and be kind and forgiving whenever I can. Compared to the 10 quattuotrigintillion (yep, that’s a number) years our universe will exist for, I don’t think our lifespans are long enough to dwell on petty frustrations. One of the biggest perspective changes has been to not take anything for granted. Several of my attempts to publish this book failed, but the entire time I had fresh water, reliable food, a home, and a loving family. Not everyone gets those. The odds against this universe existing in the first place are something like a one followed by two trillion zeroes. Life is pretty darn special. I don’t want to let it slip by without really appreciating it.

If you could have one hypothesis proved in your lifetime, which one would it be? 

In the distant future, I’d love to know if exotic matter can be synthesized. Exotic matter is a theoretical substance that has negative mass. If it’s real, it unlocks the possibility of bending space-time and travelling faster than light – and that basically would fulfill our fantasies of visiting some of the coolest places in the cosmos. In the nearer term, I’m hoping that nuclear fusion turns out to be a viable source of clean global energy; we could really use it around now.

What do you hope readers take away from Cosmic Wonder?

I’m hoping readers will take away a curiosity that really sticks with them. I’m sorry for those adults who believe that curiosity is a kids-only zone, but it really isn’t! The universe is a mind-boggling place, and it has no obligation to make sense to us. Despite our overwhelming insignificance, I really don’t want readers to conclude that life is meaningless; I’d rather they take away that our lives can mean whatever we want them to mean. There’s a million different doctrines on this planet saying “Here’s how to live a proper life.” Who knows if any of them are correct? I hope readers get the sense of cosmic wonder that the book tries its best to display.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Photo Credit: Park Photo Studio by Matt Kim.