I got interested in astronomy at the age of 8 because I was looking at an atlas of the planets in my parents’ apartment in Arlington, where I grew up. I got a telescope at age 10, which is pretty normal, and by the time I was in eighth grade, I had already seen a lot of cheesy sci-fi films. Seth Shostak Read Quote
I think a lot of kids are interested in two science subjects: dinosaurs and aliens. The reason is almost genetic; we’re hard-wired to be interested in things that might be a little dangerous. Seth Shostak Read Quote
Five centuries from now – barring unimaginable catastrophe – the moon will be developed real estate. There’s economic incentive to exploit the moon – the helium-3 will be useful in powering fusion reactors, and the rare earth elements could supplant the limited terrestrial supply of these materials. Seth Shostak Read Quote
What was there before the Big Bang?’ That’s a question that both kids and adults love to pose to anyone who seems sympathetic. After all, if the universe has only been around for roughly 14 billion years, isn’t it legitimate to ask what was in existence before the mother-of-all-events cranked up the cosmos? Seth Shostak Read Quote
Eternal inflation,’ as it’s called – the endless generation of new universes – may be a hyper-cosmic imperative. It seems that it must happen. Seth Shostak Read Quote
Five centuries ago, Copernicus upset humanity’s applecart with the news that the Earth is not the center of the cosmos. It could be that, before you’ve paid off your house, we’ll learn that the universe is not the center of the universe, either! Seth Shostak Read Quote
Many people suggest using mathematics to talk to the aliens, and Dutch computer scientist Alexander Ollongren has developed an entire language (Lincos) based on this idea. But my personal opinion is that mathematics may be a hard way to describe ideas like love or democracy. Seth Shostak Read Quote
Certainly the history of astronomy shows that every time we thought we were special, we were wrong. Seth Shostak Read Quote
Judging by informal observation, most young Americans burn up their spare time buffing their emotional IQ and self-esteem with social media and non-stop texting. That’s great for eye-thumb coordination, but what about the satisfaction of actually making something? Seth Shostak Read Quote
I’ve often fantasized about visiting the Bahamian beach where Columbus first stumbled ashore in 1492. Sadly, no one knows where that beach is. In fact, no one’s even sure which island Columbus first encountered (there are three candidates). It’s a pity, a disappointment, and a lost revenue source for the Bahamians. Seth Shostak Read Quote
