I considered going into business or becoming a lawyer - not for the money, but for the thrill of problem-solving.

Physicists have yet to understand why the Higgs boson's mass is what it is.

There are many aspects of time we just do not understand. That’s the thing about writing a popular book: You realize the things you understand because for those you can give a really simple explanation. But some things about time I just don’t know how to give simple explanations for, even though I can tell you mathematically what’s going on.

Secrets of the cosmos will begin to unravel. I, for one, can't wait.

Scientific research involves going beyond the well-trodden and well-tested ideas and theories that form the core of scientific knowledge. During the time scientists are working things out, some results will be right, and others will be wrong. Over time, the right results will emerge.

An almost indispensable skill for any creative person is the ability to pose the right questions. Creative people identify promising, exciting, and, most important, accessible routes to progress - and eventually formulate the questions correctly.

Probably if you look like Tyra Banks, it probably is hard, even if you are really smart, for people to take - it surprises some.