Science is very good at answering the 'how' questions. 'How did the universe evolve to the form that we see?' But it is woefully inadequate in addressing the 'why' questions. 'Why is there a universe at all?' These are the meaning questions, which many people think religion is particularly good at dealing with.

You should never be surprised by or feel the need to explain why any physical system is in a high entropy state.

But, as Einstein once said, “For we convinced physicists, the distinction between past, present, and future is only an illusion, however persistent.”5

I'd say many features of string theory don't mesh with what we observe in everyday life.

A unified theory would put us at the doorstep of a vast universe of things that we could finally explore with precision.

I may be a Jewish scientist, but I would be tickled silly if one day I were reincarnated as a Baptist preacher.

For me it's been very exciting to contribute to the public's understanding of how rich and wondrous science is.