One of the things that fascinates me most is when people are so charmed by the universe that it becomes part of their artistic output.

The news media reported the $250 million as an unthinkably huge waste of money and proclaimed that something was wrong with NASA. The result was an investigation and a congressional hearing. Not to defend failure, but $250 million is not much more than the cost to produce Kevin Costner's film flop Waterworld.

Climate change has taken on political dimensions. That's odd because I don't see people choosing sides over E=Mc2 or other fundamental facts of science.

No matter what eyewitness testimony is in the court of law, it is the lowest form of evidence in the court of science.

One of the most significant events in our distant past is still perhaps the greatest mystery: the origins of life itself.

Computers have proved to be formidable chess players. In fact, they've beaten our top human chess champions.

That the north star is the brightest in the night sky. I'd guess about 9 out of 10 people think this. But it does not require a grant from the National Science Foundation to learn the answer. The North Star is not even in the top 40 in the night sky. It's the 49th brightest star. Rather dull and boring by most measures.