welcome to the human brain

When you are starting a new job in less than a week, you’re dealing with at least two lists. There’s the long errand and shopping and chore-focused to-do list (get dress tailored, do laundry, buy black boots, sew buttons on cardigan…), and then there’s the more abstract list of things that would be fun or smart or healthy for you to do while you have the time, so you can at least tell yourself that you took advantage of the last few days of this period that gets dramatically and not entirely accurately referred to as “freedom.” If you live in New York, topping the list of things you always want and mean to do, but rarely manage is: Go to a museum. Miraculously, Alice had free passes to the Museum of Natural History. Even better, she was willing to play hooky from work to go with me.

In the special exhibit about the brain, I learned that if neurons were marbles, each of us would have enough to fill the New York Public Library. Some of the text in the exhibit was hilariously matter-of-fact, like, “Just when you’re trying your best to be reasonable, your emotions can lead you astray.” There was also this: “By the time you reach your twenties, your brain is functioning at its peak. After that, little by little, the number of neural connections declines.” We played games designed to test your memory and reaction time and various other things we all hope to be good at: trying to trace a shape while looking in a mirror, reading names of colors printed in other colors, attempting to learn the Braille alphabet in a couple of minutes. Then we went to the museum café and each had an $11 panini.

Since it was snowing and a weekday, there was hardly anyone in the butterfly conservatory, so we got to walk around in the humid little tank for as long as we wanted, pointing and exclaiming at the butterflies flying around (The giant shiny blue one! The lacy orange and white one! The one with transparent wings!) and getting a little delirious from the sudden heat. Being in that place is perfect therapy for wintertime; it makes you giddy and melt-y and prone to hugging your friend and telling her how happy you are to be right there with her.

Later, we listened to Whoopi Goldberg narrate a “journey” into space. We watched a strange IMAX movie about aquatic dinosaurs. We went up to the fourth floor and walked through room after room (or “hall” after “hall”) of those dinosaurs and their relatives, skeletons and reconstructions and missing pieces. We went to the Hall of Ocean Life and looked up at the giant whale and at the dioramas that are my favorite, favorite thing—so carefully staged and gently glowing—and then traipsed through the North American Forests and New York State Environment sections, clearly the least loved and restored parts of the museum, with their dated signage and general quaintness, on our way to the hall of minerals and gems, where we wanted to go because we are girls and we like sparkly things. Or really, because I used to be obsessed with rocks.

I used to be obsessed with lots of the things the museum is preoccupied with, which is maybe why I have more affection for it than I do for the Met. The Natural History Museum feels more personal, making me think about how fiercely I used to love dinosaurs—how all kids love dinosaurs, and always will, and how mind-bendingly cool they are to people of all ages, whether or not they want to admit it (the array of dino-themed merch in the giftshop testifies to this, and while I’m on board with a dinosaur-shaped ladle and an ice-cube tray that makes ice in the shape of dinosaur bones, I could do without the pink kiddie t-shirt emblazoned with a sparkly dinosaur and the words “Prehistoric Princess”). All these dinosaurs remind me that, at one early point, I vaguely wanted to be a paleontologist (who didn’t?). The oddly straightforward and therefore semi-uncomfortable histories of various peoples remind me that I wanted to be an archaeologist. The meteors and big hunks of crazily colored rock remind me that for a little while, I really, really wanted to be a geologist. Or an environmentalist or some kind, testing rain with little ph strips to find out its acid content. Or some other profession that involved catching salamanders and subjecting them to a series of random, gentle tests. The trappings of science have always been a real stimulant for me, probably more than art, even though art is technically where my loyalties lie. Science sucks me in with its taxonomies and patient explanations (even if I don’t understand them; Whoopi’s narration in the planetarium was enthusiastic, but it didn’t make it any easier to process the idea of space or dark matter or how a star is born), its objects lined up and labeled behind glass.

My various science-y aspirations pretty much ended when I got to middle school and realized I couldn’t wrap my brain around carbon dating or isotopes or even fractions. It’s a little sad, mostly in retrospect, and mostly because it lines up so neatly and misleadingly with the abilities girls are and aren’t supposed to be confident about at that age. It’s depressing to think about how I much I used to love experiments, until I had to do them in a classroom with an accompanying worksheet or lab report, and grades. But I don’t think I was ever really going to be a scientist. The way I love all this stuff now is the same way I loved it as a kid, based on emotions and aesthetics. I’m romanced by it in a way that doesn’t require real understanding or expertise, and in some ways depends on the lack of exactly those things. It’s enough for me to look at everything laid out so carefully, the volume and detail of it overwhelming, and to let myself be amazed by big things like time and extinction, and little things like the birds painted into the background of a diorama, and the way stars looked on the curved ceiling of the planetarium. There’s the memory of a field trip here to see “Dinosaurs Alive” when I was in second grade, two Rainforest Alliance galas held in the shadow of the giant whale, tumbled rocks in the gift shop that my fingers are still drawn to. And now this quiet, perfect, snowy day in a museum with a good friend, right before things change again.

23,615 responses to “welcome to the human brain”

  1. ?????? ? ??????? ???????????? ? ???????

    ????? ??????????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ????? ?? 2025?

    ?????? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ? ???????! ?????? ??????? – 10 ??????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ? ??????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??????????? Telegram-??????! ????????????? ????? ?????? ??? ???????????
    ?????? ?????? 2024

  2. Peggyphiff

    in such case, I don’t have to be friends with you. https://lojaeletronicos.me/secadores-de-cabelo-melhores-marcas-mondial/ and gratuitous porn movies empire xxx – | xhamster, they crave to try that you need, from solo masturbation, blowjob, lesbian experiments, cunnilingus to group orgy, anal gaping, deep in https://tempsdeparoles.fr/dialoguer-collaborateurs-groupe-analyse-des-pratiques-professionnelles/ and public sex.

  3. ?????? ? ???????????? ?????????? ??? ???????????

    ????????????? ??????????????? ????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ? ??????? 2025?

    ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ??? ?????? ? ???????! ??????? – 10 ?????????? ???????? ??????? ??????????? ?????????? ? ??? ????????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???????? Telegram-??????! ??????????? ? ????? ?? ??????? ?????
    ?????? ? ??????? ??? ????????

  4. ?????? ? ???????????? ???????

    ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????!

    ? 2025 ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????????! ?? ????? ????????? ??? ??? ???????? – 10 ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????-??????. ????????, ? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????? ??????????? ?????????? ?????? ? ????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ??.
    ??????? ??????

  5. ??????? ???????? ? ??????? ?????????

    ?????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????!

    ? ??????? 2025 ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ? ????????????? ?????????! ?? ???????????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? – 10 ?????-????? ??????????????? ???? ????????? ??????????? ??????. ????????, ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ????????????? ?????? ?? ??? ? ??????????? ?????????? ? ??????? ?????????? ?????????.
    ?????? ?????? ??? ????????

  6. can you get cheap mesalamine

    Pills information leaflet. Short-Term Effects.
    can you get cheap mesalamine
    Actual news about medication. Get information now.

  7. ?????? ? ????????? ???? ? ??????

    ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????!

    ? 2025 ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????????? ??????? ?????! ?? ????? ??????????? ? ????? ????? ??? ?????? – 10 ?????-????? ????????????? ? ????? ?????????? ??????-??????. ??????, ??? ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ????????? ????????????? ?????? ? ????? ?????????? ???? ? ??????? ??????.
    ?????? ? ??????????? ????????? ? ??????? ???????

  8. Jacobreula

    http://www.vosf.ru — ??? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? vosf.

  9. can i buy generic strattera prices

    Medication prescribing information. Long-Term Effects.
    can i buy generic strattera prices
    Some information about meds. Get now.

  10. Idadus

    ????????? ???????? ???? ??????. ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ????. ? ???????? ? ????.
    ?. ????????, ???????????? ????? (????????????? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????), ? ???????-???????????? ??????? ??? ????????????? ?????????, https://fasonexpert.ru/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%b2%d0%b5%d1%82-%d0%bc%d0%b8%d1%80/ ??? ???????? ????????? ? ??????? ????? ? ???????????? ? ??????????? ????????.

  11. Robertdow

    Multiple exchanges: if you manage own money on several crypto exchanges, http://gendou.com/forum/thread.php?thr=43345 trading bot has the right make transactions on diverse exchanges together from a single dashboard.

  12. BrendanDor

    ?????? ?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????? ???????????!

    ? ??? 2025 ??????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????! ???? ??????? ???????????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ??????? – 10 ?????-????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????? ??????. ????????, ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ?????? ? ????? ??????????????? ?????? ? ???????? ?????????? ?????????.
    ?????? ??? ???????? ? ???????

  13. vivod iz zapoya Nijnii Novgorod_vnSl

    ?????????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? .

  14. Stanleyfal

    The article was a significant contribution to the field, offering valuable insights and information that will be beneficial to many.

  15. Jacobreula

    ????? ? ?????? — ???????? ? ??????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????.

  16. how to buy cheap mesalamine online

    Drugs information for patients. What side effects?
    how to buy cheap mesalamine online
    Actual information about medicament. Get information here.

  17. Jacobreula

    https://umalutki.ru/ — ??????? ?????? ? ????? ??????? ? ???????????? ?? ??????????????? ?????? ?????.

  18. Ahmadkiz

    ???????
    bonus for registration is a excellent option for loyal users to improve own experience trade and explore website, earning additional capital https://alkhaliltravels.com/believing-any-of-these-10-myths-about-primexbt-trading-keeps-you-from-growing/.

  19. DanielFurge

    Wow news for all us

  20. DominicWom

    0
    ?????? ???????? ? 2024 — ???? ????? ?????? ??????, ??????????? ??? ????????? ??????????, ??????? ????????????? ????????? ? ?????? w2

  21. Barrytoump

    This article left an impression on me hope you??™ll check it out too https://octomo.co.uk/read-blog/9086

  22. price of atorvastatin lipitor 20mg

    Meds information. Drug Class.
    price of atorvastatin lipitor 20mg
    All about medicine. Get information now.

  23. Jacobreula

    http://www.arch-mag.ru — ??? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? arch-mag.

  24. can i purchase cheap cozaar pill

    Medicines information leaflet. What side effects?
    can i purchase cheap cozaar pill
    Actual what you want to know about medicines. Get information now.

  25. ???? ?? ????

    Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic.
    I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it.
    You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
    I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a wonderful web site.

    my homepage :: ???? ?? ????

  26. get ventolin price

    Pills information sheet. Brand names.
    get ventolin price
    Actual about medicines. Get now.

  27. Jacobreula

    http://www.jfair.ru — ??? ??????? ? ???????? ????????? ?????.

  28. Jacobreula

    ????? ????? ????????? — ?????? ????? ?? ????? ? ??????. ????????, ?????????? ? ??????????? ?????.

  29. Kristinlax

    ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ??????? ?????????????? ? ?????????? ???? ???????????, http://noginsk-service.ru/forum/index.php?action=go;url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50anN0cml6a292LmN6L3N0b2xuaS10ZW5pcy8yMi1ha3R1YWxpdGEtcGluZ3BvbmctMQ ?? ??? ??????????? ???? ????????? ????????? ?? ???????.

  30. apo hydroxyzine somnolence

    Drug information. Drug Class.
    apo hydroxyzine somnolence
    Everything information about medicine. Read information here.

  31. Tanvexor App

    I blog often and I truly thank you for your information.
    This article has truly peaked my interest. I will bookmark your website and keep checking for
    new details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  32. vivod iz zapoya Nijnii Novgorod_qcka

    ??????? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?? ????? .

  33. vivod iz zapoya Nijnii Novgorod_qhpt

    ?????????? ?? ????? ?????????? ?? ????? .

  34. SportyBet_pqPr

    SportyBet account SportyBet account .

  35. where to buy cheap nolvadex without insurance

    Pills prescribing information. Drug Class.
    where to buy cheap nolvadex without insurance
    All what you want to know about medicines. Get now.

  36. Jacobreula

    ????? ?? ????? ???? — ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ? ???????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????.

  37. Dinkeybrods

    ?????????)))
    ? ???????????? ? ??????? ???????? ???????????? ? ????? ?????????? ?143 ?? ?????? ?????? 2022 ???? «? ???????? ????????? ? ?????? ???????????? ??????????? ???????? ???????????? ? ????? ?????????? ????????? ?? 5% ?????? 2021 ???? ?551 «?? ????? ? ?????????? ??????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????????? ????????? ? 2021-2022 ??????? ????», ????????? (??????????????) ???? ??????????????? ????????? ?? ??????????????????? ????????? (????? – ?????????) ??????????? ? ?????? ? 18 ?? 23 ?????? 2022 ????, ? ??????????? ???????, ?? ???????? «???? ???????? – ???? ????????? – ???? ??????» ? ???????????, ??????? ???-??????, http://44wd.ru/forum/go.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly94bi0tLS03c2JhYm5vMmFibDRhOWFnZ2IueG4tLXAxYWkvZWR1Y2F0aW9uL29saW1waWFkYS1kbGEtc2hrb2xuaWtvdi1zaGFucy1wcm9hdml0LXNlYmEtcy1sdWNoc2hleS1zdG9yb255Lmh0bWw ?????? ? ???????.

  38. Brandonmusty

    ????? ???? ??????, ? ?? ???????? ?????? ? ????????????? ????? ??????.
    There are does not exist universally applicable rules; rather, http://femmesdeboue.com/bonjour-tout-le-monde/ specifies very few games, necessary for in order to participate and receiving the chance of victory.

  39. get cheap thorazine without insurance

    Meds information. Short-Term Effects.
    get cheap thorazine without insurance
    All information about medicament. Read now.

  40. Jacobreula

    http://nedra2021.ru/ — ?????, ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????.

  41. atorvastatin pill

    Medicine information for patients. What side effects can this medication cause?
    atorvastatin pill
    Actual what you want to know about medicines. Read now.

  42. Jacobreula

    http://www.catspot.ru — ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????????? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ?????.

  43. where can i get generic zocor no prescription

    Medicines information leaflet. What side effects?
    where can i get generic zocor no prescription
    Actual news about medicament. Get information now.

  44. Angieicers

    ????? ????? ??????.
    ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????, ??? ????????????? ????? ??????, ????????, https://vipcaraudio.ru/blog-i-stati/2017/10/02/obzor-novinki-ot-doktora-vasiliya-kolonki-alpine-x-s65c/ ????????? ????????? globax media.

  45. Jacobreula

    ????? ?? ????? — ???????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??????????????? ??????? ?? pravoslavieug.

  46. buying generic atomoxetine no prescription

    Pills information sheet. What side effects?
    buying generic atomoxetine no prescription
    All about medicine. Read information here.

  47. Jacobreula

    http://osmio.ru — ??????? ??????? ? ????? ????.

  48. TammyWep

    ???????????? ? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????????? ????????? ??? ????????????? ???????????, http://explorekazakhstan.com/tour/tour-to-astana/ ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ????????? ??????? ? ?????????.

  49. clopidogrels role in managing pulmonary embolism insights and implications

    Medication information for patients. Brand names.
    clopidogrels role in managing pulmonary embolism insights and implications
    Some information about medicines. Read now.

  50. indonesia bokep terbaru

    Yes! Finally someone writes about bokep indonesia.

Leave a Reply