In aeronautics, “the envelope” refers to performance limits that cannot be safely exceeded. To push the envelope is to approach or extend the boundaries of what’s possible. Pushing the envelope is inevitably perceived as dangerous or risky because it means going into unknown territory, “where no one has gone before.”
It’s important to test limits and boundaries once in a while. For example, running a mile in four minutes was once considered impossible. Then, in 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes 59 seconds. Since then, the four-minute mile barrier has been broken more than a thousand times.
Many things that used to be considered impossible are now commonplace. Flight. Space flight. Photos without film. Self-driving cars.
What was impossible yesterday may be possible today. The only way to know for sure is to test the boundaries and see.
Are people telling you that something is impossible? Can you design an experiment to test that belief?
See also: Growth, Mountain climbing, Airplane, Altitude, Deep dive, Impact, Escape velocity.
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