We will never meet this woman nor fully understand the true purpose of this photo and the intricate machinery behind her. Thus, to me, this photo is a symbol of mystery -- with the juxtaposition of humanity and the cruel task master of nascent 21st-century technology.

But there is hope. As humanity uses complex tools such as the Large Hadron Collider, we will better understand string theory, high dimensions, and our place in the universe. Our tools, rather than being "cruel," become our allies and allow humans to become transcendent.

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