It might seem that we have already learned everything there is to know about life. The world looks so obvious through our beliefs. But the world never stands still. With each change, we realize that some of these beliefs are incorrect. Thus, attaching yourself to one statement is the wrong way. Imagine a few centuries ago, people considered that they had reached the peak of knowledge in medicine. However, many discoveries came and totally changed our perception of life.

Here is a shining example of how new knowledge has the power to challenge and even overturn our existing beliefs. Before the discovery of Australia, people were sure that only one type of swan existed: the white one. In the 17th century, the discovery of a black swan in Western Australia by explorers caused a paradigm shift. It shattered their existing framework of understanding, as they had previously believed that all swans were white. It once again proves that our beliefs can change every second.

With this story in mind, Nassim Nicholas Taleb developed a theory of Black Swan events. These are genuinely unexpected things that change a person's understanding. Humanity tries to explain this phenomenon but may not know that such a thing could happen. For example, war is always the most unexpected horror, so World War II can be considered a Black Swan event. Could anyone have predicted the terrible terrorist act of September 11? Did someone know about the future appearance of the Internet? All these are examples of Black Swans.

People consider themselves the highest being who knows everything and can change the world. Of course, we cannot belittle humanity's progress. But there are still many obstacles that the future is preparing for us. And even with our intelligence and awareness, we cannot predict them. The world is full of secrets.

Different books, musical works, and other cultural inventions can also become Black Swans. The essential thing is that we distinguish them by unpredictability and a significant impact on society. Another distinctive feature is that people always manage to find a plausible explanation for a Black Swan. However, they typically do so only afterward in attempts to rationalize it. Scientists try to do different research so that such phenomena do not come as a surprise. Yet, it only gives them false hope that their efforts will help predict such events.