Omphalos

"Omphalos" is a science fantasy short story by American author Ted Chiang. It is named after the Omphalos hypothesis and a 1857 book by English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse. It was first published in Chiang's 2019 collection, Exhalation: Stories. Plot The story is told through the prayers and letters of pious archaeologist Dr. Dorothea Morrel and takes place in an alternate 20th century where young Earth creationism is true. Dorothea travels from an archaeological dig in Arisona to give a public lecture on Chicagou, where she explains how dendrochronology has determined the world to be 8,912 years old as well as indicating that the first trees were created fully grown, as they have a ringless core. The museum's latest exhibit includes Atacaman mummies belonging to the first generation of humans—created as adults by God and thus lacking navels. Believing that primordial beings with apparent signs of growth would have been tantamount to deception, Dorothea is passionate that God intended humans to understand Him through science. From a meeting with her cousin, Dorothea believes that an illegal sale of museum relics is taking place. The clues lead her to a post office in San Francisco, where, to her surprise, the thief turns out to be a teen, Wilhelmina McCullough. She is the daughter of Dr. Nathan McCullough, director of the University of Alta California. Wilhelmina explains that she did not steal out of personal gain but to strengthen people's faith before her father's recent discovery is made public.