An extraterrestrial being, newly arrived on Earth - scrutinizing what we mainly present to our children in television, radio, movies, newspapers, magazines, the comics, and many books - might easily conclude that we are intent on teaching them murder, rape, cruelty, superstition, credulity, and consumerism. We keep at it, and through constant repetition many of them finally get it.

In many cultures it is customary to answer that God created the universe out of nothing. But this is mere temporizing. If we wish courageously to pursue the question, we must, of course ask next where God comes from? And if we decide this to be unanswerable, why not save a step and conclude that the universe has always existed?

The method of science, as stodgy and grumpy as it may seem, is far more important than the findings of science.

Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers.

We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical.

Nature does not always conform to our predispositions and preferences, to what we deem comfortable and easy to understand.

When we look up at night and view the stars, everything we see is shinning because of distant nuclear fusion.