First things first, what are hyperobjects? Coined by philosopher Timothy Morton in 2010, the term hyperobject refers to entities that are so massively distributed in time and space that they dwarf our usual, human-scale perceptions. Think climate change, plastic pollution, or even the internet. These are all examples of hyperobjects. They’re all around us, influencing our lives in profound ways, yet they’re too vast and too spread out through time and space for us to fully comprehend or see directly.

One of the key features of hyperobjects is their viscosity. This means that they stick to beings that interact with them. For instance, no matter how much we try to distance ourselves from climate change by recycling or conserving energy, we’re still stuck in its sticky web. It clings to us, affecting us in myriad ways, from the weather patterns we experience to the global policies shaping our world.

Another characteristic is their nonlocality. This is the idea that the effects of a hyperobject can be felt everywhere, even if the object itself is nowhere to be seen. For instance, radioactive material from nuclear fallout, or CO2 emissions affecting the global climate. Their effects are dispersed across the globe, impacting ecosystems, human health, and economies in places far removed from their sources.

Temporal undulation is yet another fascinating aspect. Hyperobjects exist on time scales that far exceed human lifetimes, making their phases, or changes, difficult to perceive or predict. For instance, the slow but relentless rise in global temperatures, or the degradation of plastics in our oceans. These changes are happening on geological timescales, unfolding over hundreds, thousands, or even millions of years.

So, why does the concept of hyperobjects matter? Understanding them helps us grasp the sheer scale of some of the challenges facing humanity and the planet. It forces us to rethink our relationship with the world, underscoring how intertwined our lives are with these colossal, complex entities. It’s a wake-up call to the interconnectedness of everything, pushing us towards greater ecological thinking and responsibility.

In conclusion, hyperobjects are vast, sprawling entities that stretch beyond our usual understanding of time and space. They’re an essential concept for grappling with the global, long-term problems that confront us, from environmental issues to technological impacts on our society. By acknowledging their presence and learning to think and act in ways that recognize their scale, we begin to address...