Queen legend Brian May argues we’ve lost the ability to “discuss” and “respect” other people’s point of view

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This article originally appeared in TopMob Magazine.

Brian May loves working with large-scale events. For example, when he played the national anthem on his guitar from the roof of Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, an estimated 200 million people around the world watched.

Before all of that, he famously performed with Queen at Live Aid, where they captivated an audience of around two billion people. Throughout a career lasting over 50 years, his band has sold more than 300 million albums, including their iconic 1975 hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which continues to be the most streamed song from the 1900s.

However, all those numbers seem small compared to the figures May is focusing on today. He’s sharing astonishing statistics from his new book, Islands in Infinity: Galaxies in 3-D, which is the first book to show galaxies in three dimensions. He achieved this by using stereoscopy, an old photographic technique that creates the illusion of depth with pairs of images.

May told TopMob that this project represents the peak of their work combining 3D imagery with astronomy. They’ve previously created 3D experiences about the Apollo moon landings (‘Mission Moon 3-D’), a close-up look at the asteroid Bennu (‘Bennu 3-D’), and beautiful nebulae (‘Cosmic Clouds’). May wondered what to focus on next, after exploring beyond our galaxy. The answer, they realized, is the billions of other galaxies out there, highlighting just how enormous and full of objects the universe truly is.

Astronomy is advancing incredibly quickly, making it challenging to stay informed. However, understanding how galaxies work provides insight into the workings of the entire universe. That’s why we’ve created a resource to help everyone keep up with the latest discoveries.

Dr. May, an expert in the speed of dust clouds around the sun, collaborated with leading researchers Derek Ward-Thompson and J-P Metsavainio to write the book. He sees himself as the person who brought the project together and finalized it as editor.

He describes his process as relentlessly questioning every detail – constantly asking ‘why’ to ensure complete understanding. He believes if he doesn’t grasp something, others won’t either. He’s found that this has turned him into a natural editor, which he enjoys, but admits he now struggles to simply read a book without mentally editing it as he goes.

From a young age, May has been passionate about both astronomy and playing guitar. He fondly remembers pleading with his parents to let him stay up late to watch the astronomy program, The Sky at Night. “I’d hide behind the sofa as a child, completely captivated,” he recalls. “Patrick Moore was a major inspiration – I’d listen to him and immediately run outside to try and spot what he was talking about in the night sky. It was incredibly inspiring.”

Brian May and Moore became good friends after meeting while May was a student at Imperial College London. They later worked together on a BBC project. May fondly recalls their connection, describing Moore as a sort of uncle figure and remembering many happy moments they shared.

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Brian May has a wide range of passions, including wildlife conservation and building his unique guitar. It makes you wonder, how does he balance everything? And do his interests in music and science ever conflict?

He explains that many renowned astronomers, starting with Isaac Newton, also had a passion for music. He believes this connection isn’t surprising, suggesting that art and science are fundamentally linked. As a child, he was told he had to choose between them, but he’s always resisted that idea. He feels that a sense of beauty is crucial to understanding the universe.

May’s fascination with exploring new boundaries is often overshadowed by his disappointment with humanity. He admits to feeling deeply saddened by the world, saying it troubles his sleep. He’s particularly disturbed by the cruelty, ignorance, dishonesty, and historical revisionism he sees. May believes that a deep appreciation for art and music fosters empathy and makes people less likely to inflict harm on others.

Given all the pain in the world, why contribute to it further? We seem to have forgotten how to have constructive conversations and respect differing opinions, leading to extreme division. If people focused more on appreciating beauty and creativity, much of this conflict could be avoided.

He readily smiles when I ask if he ever tries to share his passion for complicated science with his wife, actress Anita Dobson, of 25 years. He explains they lead busy, separate lives. “We don’t really have time for things that don’t interest us,” he says. “If I start explaining stereoscopic imagery, she’ll just say, ‘That’s nice, dear, as long as you’re enjoying it.'”

You can purchase Islands in Infinity: Galaxies in 3-D, our book of the month.

Authors

Caroline Frost

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2026-01-05 21:17