A Great Perhaps

     Ever since humans have been on earth, curiosity has followed. I believe that people have let curiosity get the best of them for many reasons. One of these reasons is that people fear the unknown so when they discover more of the unknown there is less fear. Fame and fortune plays a big part in exploration as well. Discovering a new plant or species could potentially bring about new and improved cures. These cures would definitely bring fame and fortune, therefore people around the world are eager to observe the undiscovered parts of the world. Finally, I suppose that people want to believe there is more to life than what they are experiencing or have experienced. The last words of french poet Francois Rabelais were, "I go to seek a great perhaps."  I suspect that this is another reasons that explorers do what they do. They want to leave this planet knowing that they found their "great perhaps."
     People have searched across the globe on dangerous adventures for centuries. There have been expeditions across rainforests, tundras, desserts, and many more places. There have been many cases in which an adventurer leaves in hopes to discover something amazing and does not return. These cases, although tragic, have played a large part in the discoveries and technological and agricultural advances that we have today. If these people had not tried to explore the unknown, no one would have been able to plan a successful expedition based on their gatherings and new explorers would know what was dangerous when they do search the new land.
     Even though there is a possibility of the fame or self satisfaction mentioned earlier, there are many negative affects of searching unknown places. Explorers have to be willing to sacrifice their life go on these expeditions. One's body has not adapted to or prepared for anything that this new place contains so there is a great chance of death. Death does not only affect the person on the expedition because that person's family will be affected greatly as well. Another thing that adventurers have to sacrifice is luxury. Some people take their possessions for granted and do not realize that when they go on an adventure they will not have amazing food to eat or a nice bed to sleep in. Finally, they might sacrifice their reputation. If a scientist happens to discover a new plant and brings the native plant back to wherever he came from, there is a chance that the plant could kill another species in the area and disrupt the entire food web.