There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.

Science is beautiful when it makes simple explanations of phenomena or connections between different observations.

With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code. By contrast, computers double their speed and memories every 18 months. There is a real danger that computers will develop intelligence and take over. We urgently need to develop direct connections to the brain so that computers can add to human intelligence rather than be in opposition.

One should love animals. They are so tasty.

The initial configuration of the universe may have been chosen by God, or it may itself have been determined by the laws of science. In either case, it would seem that everything in the universe would then be determined by evolution according to the laws of science, so it is difficult to see how we can be masters of our fate.

I think the next century will be the century of complexity.

We explore because we are human and we want to know. I hope that Pluto will help us on that journey.