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.

23,623 responses to “welcome to the human brain”

  1. ????? ? ??

    That drawing then will get handed to another player who has to explain what they’re seeing, and another player will have to draw that guess.

  2. where can i get diflucan without insurance
  3. how to wean seroquel

    Medication prescribing information. What side effects can this medication cause?
    how to wean seroquel
    Some trends of drugs. Get information now.

  4. Andreathype

    We offer a huge range of high-quality hardware for mining cryptocurrencies, including cooling systems and accessories.
    More detailed information on the link ????? ??????? ?????? and ????? ??????
    Our Products are ideal for both novice miners and experienced professionals seeking to optimize their operations.

  5. Angelamugs

    http://www.ug5r.ru — ??? ??? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ????????????.

  6. Andreathype

    We offer a large range of high-quality equipment for mining cryptocurrencies, including cooling systems and accessories.
    More detailed information on the link ??????? ????? ??????????? and ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ? ??????
    Our company’s products are ideal for both novice miners and experienced professionals seeking to optimize their operations.

  7. cheap fincar price

    buying generic fincar price can you get cheap fincar no prescription how to get generic fincar without a prescription
    order generic fincar without insurance how to get generic fincar for sale can you buy cheap fincar without insurance
    where to get generic fincar online
    where buy cheap fincar without dr prescription where can i get fincar for sale where to get cheap fincar without dr prescription
    where to get cheap fincar online can i buy cheap fincar without dr prescription buy cheap fincar prices

  8. can i purchase cheap lyrica without a prescription

    Medicament information leaflet. Effects of Drug Abuse.
    can i purchase cheap lyrica without a prescription
    All about medicament. Get here.

  9. cheap cymbalta pill
  10. Anthonylic

    ????????? ?????? ???????????? ????? ????? ?????? ? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????????? ? ??????? ??????? ?????? Vodka

  11. Nancykak
  12. can i order forxiga

    how can i get forxiga order forxiga price can you get generic forxiga online
    where can i get forxiga no prescription can you get generic forxiga without dr prescription how to buy cheap forxiga price
    how can i get forxiga without rx
    how to buy cheap forxiga without a prescription where to get forxiga pill buy forxiga for sale
    cost forxiga without rx buying cheap forxiga pills can i purchase cheap forxiga

  13. Glennguecy

    ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ? ????????? ???????? ?????? ? ?????? ????????????. ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ????????????, ??? ? ?????????, ????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ? ??????? ??????????? ?? ?? ???????????? ? ????????? ????????.

    ??? ???? ????? ???????

    1. ????????? ??????:
    - ???????? ? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ? ??????????? ??????????, ?? ?????????? ? ?????????????????.

    2. ????????? ??????????:
    - ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ????????? ?? ???????, ????????? ? ??????????????, ??? ???????? ?????.

    3. ????????? ????????????:
    - ??????????? ????????? ???? ? ???????? ???????? ? ?????????? ? ??????? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????.

    ???????? ??????? ???????

    1. ????? ?? ?????????:
    - ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????????, ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????.

    2. ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????:
    - ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ? ????????? ??????????? ? ?????? ?????????, ??????? ?????????, ????????????????, ???? ? ???????? ???????.

    3. ?????? ? ????????:
    - ??????????? ????????? ?????? ? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????????? ?????.

    4. ?????????????? ? ????????:
    - ?????? ????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????????? ? ?????????????????? ????????????? ?? ??????? ????????????.

    ???????????????? ?????????

    - ??????? ? ?????????? ???????? ?????????:
    ????? ??????? ????? ??????????????? ? ???????. ?????? ???? ? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ?????.

    - Mobile-friendly:
    ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ? ????????? ?????????, ????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ?? ? ????? ????? ? ? ????? ?????.

    ???????????? ? ????????

    - ????????????:
    - ????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????.
    - ?????????? ??????????????? ? ????????????.
    - ??????????????? ????? ??????????? ? ????????????? ????????????? ??????????.

    - ??????????:
    - ??????????? ?????????????? ????????????? ????, ? ???????, ??????????? ??? ???????????? ?????.
    - ????????????? ? ?????????? ??????????? ?????? ? ?????????? http://www.optionshare.tw/home.php?mod=space&uid=2004934

    ??????????

    ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????????, ??? ? ??? ??? ????????????. ?? ??????? ?????????? ?????, ???????? ?????? ?????? ? ??????????? ???????? ??????? ??????????????? ? ??????????? ????????????. ??????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ? ?????????? ? ?????????? ???????, ????? ?? ????????????? ???????? ??????.

  14. Davidaluck

    ?????????????. ? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?????????. ??????? ??????? ???? ??????. ????? ??? ? PM.
    All patients who are included in this test, were treated in time interval from January 2016 graduation to December 2022 year in club of stem cell transplantation at the University Medical Center for https://therapyautisminuk.com/ Hamburg-Eppendorf (Great Britain).

  15. DerekMow

    ?????? ?????????? ??????? ????? ???????????? ????????? ???????? ???. ???? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????? ????? ?? ????? ????????, ?? ?????????? ???????? ? ???????????? ??? ??????????? ? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????????? Gizbo Casino

  16. ??? ????

    My Rating: When it comes to humor, What’s Flawed With Secretary Kim?

  17. Polskie Kasyno Online

    Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account
    it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    By the way, how can we communicate?

  18. can i order imitrex pills

    Drugs information for patients. Effects of Drug Abuse.
    can i order imitrex pills
    Everything what you want to know about pills. Get information now.

  19. can i get cheap arcoxia online
  20. copd treatment

    copd exacerbation prevention online support platforms spirometry interpretation for copd copd exacerbation signs
    copd exacerbation prevention medication management guidelines chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) copd exacerbation prevention community outreach
    copd exacerbation prevention symptom tracking
    copd exacerbation prevention awareness copd medication management what happens with copd exacerbation
    copd exacerbation prevention screening fatigue in copd copd support groups

  21. Jessielip

    ??????????, ???? ????? ???????????
    Individual responses to MSC therapy depend on yours body and depends on how much the https://realstemcellcost.com/. cost of treatment usually starts starting from 13 000$.

  22. free porn videos

    There are three dozen of them, and we’re thrilled to see the next-level transparency.

  23. Vannfam

    ???? ????????
    Mobile apps have brought real-time leisure betting to higher rung, offering a more intoxicating and interactive https://bagoftricks.co.za/2025/01/09/how-to-sell-betwinner-online-sportsbook-fr/ experience.

  24. where to buy nortriptyline

    Pills prescribing information. Effects of Drug Abuse.
    where to buy nortriptyline
    Best what you want to know about medicine. Get information now.

  25. how to get generic diflucan price
  26. where can i buy generic allopurinol tablets

    where to buy cheap allopurinol no prescription buying allopurinol no prescription where to get generic allopurinol pill
    generic allopurinol price where can i get cheap allopurinol without prescription cost generic allopurinol without a prescription
    get generic allopurinol no prescription
    where buy allopurinol pill where to buy generic allopurinol without a prescription buying generic allopurinol tablets
    can i order cheap allopurinol where can i buy allopurinol prices can i buy generic allopurinol price

  27. Jacobreula

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

  28. WillieTaura

    LSU criticized after bringing caged live tiger into stadium before defeat to Alabama

    No. 15 LSU has been criticized for unveiling a live caged tiger in its stadium for the first time in almost a decade before they were routed 42-13 by No. 11 Alabama in their SEC showdown.

    Ahead of “The First Saturday in November,” a live tiger named Omar Bradley, owned by Florida resident Mitchel Kalmanson, was brought out in an enclosed cage with a black curtain over it, before the stadium lights went dark and a spotlight flashed onto the cage as it was unveiled.

    kraken ????
    The tiger laid down and then paced around his cage, which was attached to a truck, while photographers crowded around it, still keeping their distance. After a few minutes, the cage was slowly driven off the field at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

    LSU has a long tradition of bringing caged tigers into the stadium on gamedays but, since 2015, the school has moved away from this and instead keeps its current live tiger mascot named Mike VII in a 15,000-square-foot enclosure on campus.
    But Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry pushed for the return of this tradition, much to the frustration of the LSU community, which circulated several petitions against the practice which gathered more than 27,000 signatures between them by Sunday morning.

    Footage posted on social media also showed protesters outside the stadium holding placards with slogans including, “Justice for Omar” and “Did Tiger King teach us nothin’.”

    For Landry, having a live tiger on the field was all about “tradition,” he told FOX News on Friday.

    “This is about from Mike One through Six, we have had a live mascot on the field like many other colleges have before,” he said.

  29. ????????

    You will note a wide range of innovative equity solutions to investor and issuer clients with respect to Equity Sales Trading; these include public offerings, secondary placements and equity-linked structures, private placements, equity-derivatives products and block- and portfolio-trading services.

  30. Phoenixdnah

    Pharmacy Rx One Review Cheapest viagra 100mg Cialis pills for sale

  31. buying cheap paxil without rx

    Drugs information leaflet. Brand names.
    buying cheap paxil without rx
    Some information about medicine. Read here.

  32. DerekMow

    ?????? ?????????? ??????? ????? ???????????? ????????? ???????? ???. ???? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????? ????? ?? ????? ????????, ?? ?????????? ???????? ? ???????????? ??? ??????????? ? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????????? Gizbo Casino

  33. buy cheap buspar without prescription
  34. buy 4mg prednisone no priscription

    can i order cheap prednisone without rx buy prednisone for humans online prednisone taper chart 5 days
    can i get prednisone without rx order generic prednisone prednisone drug indication
    buy prednisone without insurance
    buy overnight prednisone buy prednisone 5mg tabs in bulk where can i get generic prednisone online
    prednisone 10 day dose pack how to get generic prednisone without a prescription get cheap prednisone without insurance

  35. structural formula of esomeprazole

    Drugs information for patients. Effects of Drug Abuse.
    structural formula of esomeprazole
    Some information about medication. Read information now.

  36. Medecinehelpltresk
  37. Uspharmacyuntok
  38. how can i get cheap imitrex without prescription
  39. where buy cetirizine online

    can you buy generic cetirizine without rx cetirizine tablets side effects can i purchase cheap cetirizine pills
    buy cheap cetirizine where can i buy cheap cetirizine without dr prescription how to get cheap cetirizine no prescription
    cetirizine 10mg pictures of pills
    cheapest place to buy cetirizine where to get cheap cetirizine pills can you get cheap cetirizine without dr prescription
    where to get cetirizine without prescription cetirizine side effect how to buy cetirizine without rx

  40. Rickyionix

    ??, ?????????????. ? ????????????? ?? ????? ???? ??????????. ????? ?????????? ?? ??? ????. ????? ??? ? PM.
    However, yourstemcelltreatment.com.

  41. Stevenhub
  42. ClydeFlose
  43. RichardWailm
  44. WilliamChire
  45. cost generic arimidex

    Meds information leaflet. What side effects can this medication cause?
    cost generic arimidex
    Everything news about medication. Get here.

  46. salt trick for erectile dysfunction

    I am really loving the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into
    any browser compatibility problems? A couple of my blog audience have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera.
    Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?

  47. where can i buy zestril without insurance
  48. can i purchase motilium without a prescription

    where to buy cheap motilium prices can i get generic motilium can you buy cheap motilium pill
    get generic motilium pills cost generic motilium without dr prescription cost of cheap motilium without insurance
    can i purchase cheap motilium without a prescription
    can i purchase generic motilium pills where to get cheap motilium prices order motilium without a prescription
    where can i get generic motilium tablets generic motilium price can you buy motilium without a prescription

  49. where can i get zithromax tablets

    Pills information. Drug Class.
    where can i get zithromax tablets
    Everything what you want to know about drug. Read information now.

  50. can i purchase cozaar for sale

Leave a Reply