Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought, particularly for people who cannot remember where they left things.

The humor comes from a category mistake: a cosmological claim about whether the universe is finite is treated as if it could help someone locate misplaced objects. Allen satirizes the human desire for “comforting” certainty, showing how people often appropriate complex scientific ideas for emotional reassurance rather than understanding. The line also pokes fun at intellectual pretension—invoking “modern astronomers” to lend authority—before undercutting it with a mundane punchline about forgetfulness. Beneath the joke is a gentle critique of how easily lofty explanations are bent to serve personal anxieties.