This might sound like a promotional post, but it’s not. At least not in the sense of me trying to sell you something so I can benefit from it. I’ve just been so inspired by something that I want to share it with you. I often listen to the Smartless* podcast, with the always-witty trio of Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. Before you turn away at the idea of listening to celebrities chitchatting, allow me to reassure you that these guys are quite bright and curious about the world. I wasn’t familiar with the work of their guest, Professor Brian Cox, and actually thought they were going to be interviewing the famed actor by the same name.  But no, this Brian Cox is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester, best known for his science programs on BBC Radio, among others. Think of a British Neil deGrasse Tyson, if you will, someone who has a gift for explaining complex science to laypeople.

The hour-long interview covered a range of topics, from the creation of the universe to what happens to us when we die, with great questions and witty repartee from the three hosts throughout. Towards the end of this episode, Jason Bateman asked the professor how he deals with the angst of working in a field where he knows that he’ll never know all the answers. I’ve attempted to transcribe Brian Cox’s answer accurately here:

“You have to admit that you don’t know things; by definition, you can’t make progress if you think you know everything. So people who think they know everything are going to be a barrier to progress, first. But secondly, you have to stand on the edge of the known and look out into the unknown not with fear but with delight and excitement. Because it’s the delight and excitement of not knowing. That’s the key to science. You turn it around, and you’re excited about looking out into the darkness because of the things that you might find, the treasure that’s buried somewhere in the darkness. It’s so wonderful and delightful to not know things, and to have things to find out. The greatest fear might be that we end up knowing everything. Because then it would be utterly pointless.”

I nodded along with him as I listened, thinking that he was expressing something I’ve felt many times, especially in my garden. As you know, I’ve spent the past nine years growing native plants and studying the insects who have come to live among those plants. I think of my garden as a laboratory or a classroom, a place where there’s always something to engage my curiosity and drive me to learn new things. And he’s right, there’s a magic to the idea that on any given day I might find yet another insect I’ve never seen before. What is it? What is it doing? How does it interact with the other insects who live here? Is it predator or prey? So many questions, and I love every one of them for opening up another avenue of exploration.

I’ve been a curious person my entire life, and enjoy any opportunity to soak up knowledge about the world around me. I can roam the aisles of a library or bookstore and find something that captures my interest in nearly any section. Making sense of how the natural world functions helps me understand my place in the world as a homo sapiens. I love knowing that we’re just one among many millions of interdependent species who all play different roles in supporting life on our beautiful planet.

And scientists believe that we’ve only classified a small proportion of the life forms thus far, so there are millions of discoveries still to be made for those of us who are willing to stand on the edge of the known and keep our fingers crossed as we look for the treasures that are still hidden.

I hope you’ll consider checking out this episode of Smartless. As I listened to them talking about the stars in our night sky I felt like a child contemplating the wonders of the universe. I always feel more grounded when I’m reminded how tiny I am in the universe, especially when I’m having uncomfortable feelings about the state of our human society.

As I finish writing this I’m listening to the cicadas cranking up their chorus for the evening, and I’m reminded of the multitudes who live here with me. I feel connected to the earth. It’s good.

*You can listen to Smartless on your favorite podcast app or at Smartless.com. This episode with Professor Brian Cox was released on August 3, 2026.