The last frontier
Meaning
This phrase refers to the final unexplored, undeveloped, or challenging area of human endeavor or geographic expansion.
Origin
The concept of 'the frontier' is deeply woven into American identity, originally referring to the moving line between settled civilization and the wild, unexplored wilderness of the American West. As the continental United States was largely settled by the late 19th century, historians like Frederick Jackson Turner declared the frontier 'closed' in 1893, sparking a national reflection on what it meant for America to no longer have new lands to conquer. This closure gave birth to the idea of 'the last frontier,' a metaphorical concept that quickly transcended geography. It came to signify any ultimate, challenging, or untouched domain awaiting discovery or development, from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space, or even the complexities of the human mind.
Examples
- Space is often considered the last frontier, offering endless possibilities for discovery and innovation.
- Despite all our technological advances, the human brain remains a complex and largely mysterious last frontier for scientific understanding.