Broadly speaking, the Southern and Western desert and mountain states will vote for the candidate who endorses an aggressive military, a role for religion in public life, laissez-faire economic policies, private ownership of guns and relaxed conditions for using them, less regulation and taxation, and a valorization of the traditional family.

It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings.

Why is it surprising that scientists might have long hair and wear cowboy boots? In fields like neuroscience, where the events you are recording are so minute, I suspect scientists cultivate a boring, reliable image. A scientist with a reputation for flamboyance might be suspect.

Unfortunately, creative people are at their most creative when writing their autobiographies.

Language mavens commonly confuse their own peeves with a worsening of the language.

The more you think about and interact with other people, the more you realize that it is untenable to privilege your interests over theirs.

I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift.