We didn't go to the moon to explore or because it was in our DNA or because we're Americans. We went because we were at war and we felt a threat.

The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.

Hunting for meteorites is like trying to find a pebble on miles of beach.

You could do math early, but there are no brilliant 16-year-old novelists. They don't know the human condition yet.

Dinosaurs are extinct today because they lacked opposable thumbs and the brainpower to build a space program.

What's up with chicks and science?

I don't even think much about politicians. I think about the people in the audience who applaud the politicians. They are your fellow countrymen and they're the ones you live with - that should be who we target for education and enlightenment.