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.

23,634 responses to “welcome to the human brain”

  1. online casino lTok

    Thank you! Valuable stuff!
    scatters online casino https://snipercasino.info/review-xbet/ 138 online casino

  2. https://dzen.ru/a/Z7DQTLZ2N0KwjE7l
  3. https://dzen.ru/a/Z7DSItn98AhsMwwv
  4. online casino lTok

    Reliable stuff. Regards.
    casino online 10 euros gratis https://hotgamblingguide.info/online-casino-aus/ online casinos usa friendly

  5. Stevenhub
  6. cost prozac for sale

    Pills information for patients. What side effects can this medication cause?
    cost prozac for sale
    Best what you want to know about medicines. Read information now.

  7. can i order cheap rizatriptan prices

    Meds information. Short-Term Effects.
    can i order cheap rizatriptan prices
    Best what you want to know about drug. Get now.

  8. JohnnyKip

    ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????????? ??????-??????, ???????????? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ??? ? ??????????????? ??????. ????? ?? ?????? ????????, ??? ????? ??? ??????, ?????-??????? ?????? ? ??? ???????? ? ??? ????? ??? ? ????????, ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???.

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

    ??? ??????, ???? ??????? ? ?????? ??????, ?? ?????? ??????????????? ?????????? ?????????:

    1. ????????? ???????: ?????? ??????? “?????? ??????” ? ????? ????????? ???????, ? ?? ??????? ??????????? ????. ????????? ???? ??????, ??? ???-???? ???????? ????????????, ? ????? ?????? ??????????? ???????.

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

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

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

    ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ???????????? ??? ?? ????? ????:

    1. ??????? ?????: ???????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ? ??????? ?????????? ? ????????? ?????????.

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

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

    4. ??????????: ?????? ???????????? ? ?????????? ??????????????? ???, ??? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ? ?????? ???????? https://sites.google.com/view/vavadatelegramposts

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

    ???????? ??? ??????? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ? ????. ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ? ????????, ????????? ????????? ????:

    1. ????? ?? ????: ???????? ??????????? ???????? ? ? ?????? ?????? ??????? “??????”. ??? ??????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ? ??????.

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

    3. ??????? ? ???????????: ???????? ? ???? ? ?????? ???????, ? ????? ????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ??????. ??? ????? ??????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ? ???????? ??????.

    ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ??? ??????? ???? ? ???????????. ??????? ? ????? ???????????? ? ??????? ????????. ???????!

  9. ?????? ???????????

    I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.

    The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the
    following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the
    same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

  10. can i order exforge for sale
  11. k? thu?t tr?ng b? k?t

    It’s an amazing piece of writing for all the internet people;
    they will get advantage from it I am sure.

  12. where buy exforge price
  13. Jacobreula

    http://www.kassyrznfilarmonia.ru – ??????? ?????? ?? ?????.

  14. JasonCeR

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

  15. https://dzen.ru/a/Z7DW57Z2N0KwlcgI
  16. https://24klubvulkan-breeze.pics

    ???????? ??? ???? Vulkan Platinum
    — ?????, ??? ????? ? ????????????? ???????? ???????
    ???????????? ?????????.
    ? ????? ????????? ??? ???? ??? — ?? ???????? ??
    ???????, ??????????? ????????? ??????????? ?
    ????????? ?????????? ??????.

    ???? ? Vulkan Platinum — ??? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ???????? ? ??????? ??????? ???.

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

    ?????? ?????? ????? ???????
    ??????????? ????????? ?????? ? ???????????? ??????? ? ??????????? ????????????.
    ?????? ???????? ??????????? ??? ??? ??? ????:

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

    ???????? ????? ???: ???????????? ?????, ??????????,
    ???????, ???????? ? ?????? ??????.

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

    ??????????????? ? Vulkan Platinum, ? ????? ????? ?????? ?????
    ?? ????? ???????!. https://24klubvulkan-breeze.pics/

  17. https://24klubvulkan-breeze.pics

    ???????? ??? ???? Vulkan Platinum — ?????, ??? ????? ? ????????????? ???????? ??????? ???????????? ?????????. ?? ?????????? ??????? ????? ???, ??????? ?????????? ?????, ???????, ????? ? ????? ???? ? ????????? ????????. ???? ? Vulkan Platinum — ??? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ???????? ? ??????? ??????? ???.

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

    ?? ????????? ??????, ????? ???????? ????? ? ?????????????? ? Vulkan Platinum ??? ???????! ??????????? ????????? ?????? ? ???????????? ??????? ? ??????????? ????????????. https://24klubvulkan-breeze.pics/ ??? ??? ??? ????:

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

    Vulkan Platinum — ??? ?????, ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ????? ? ???????? ??-????????.

  18. buy generic diflucan for sale

    Pills prescribing information. Brand names.
    buy generic diflucan for sale
    Everything news about medication. Read here.

  19. methocarbamol recommended dose

    Pills information for patients. Brand names.
    methocarbamol recommended dose
    Best information about drugs. Get now.

  20. Patrickwam

    ? ?????????, ??, ??-?????, ?? ??????????. ???? ???????? ???? ???????. ?????? ??? ? PM, ???????.
    The numbers are hashed, after completions of the Aviator game download and test all outcomes. however this strategy is quite risky, therefore if in the house, people do not recommend to use it.

  21. Davidvew

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

  22. JocelynUnemn

    ????????? ? ???? ????????. ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ????. ? ???????? ? ????.
    necessary notice, that the game is based on a provably honest system, therefore in the https://ragezone.com/2025/01/06/aviator-game-review/” each round is random and it cannot be manipulated.

  23. 1win_ooSt

    1win ??????????? ?? ????? 1win1.am .

  24. 1vin_faKa

    ???? ???? ???? http://1win2.com.kg .

  25. JasonCeR

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

  26. where can i get cheap dipyridamole no prescription
  27. 1vin_knKr

    ??????? ?????? ?????? 1win8.com.kg .

  28. how can i get cheap dipyridamole without insurance
  29. buy generic phenergan for sale

    Medication prescribing information. Drug Class.
    buy generic phenergan for sale
    Some about medicine. Get here.

  30. where to get generic ursodiol without rx

    Drug information sheet. Long-Term Effects.
    where to get generic ursodiol without rx
    Actual news about drug. Read information now.

  31. JohnnyKip

    ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??-????-??????, ???????????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ? ??????????????? ??????. ????? ?? ?????? ????????, ??? ????? ??? ??????, ?????-??????? ???? ? ??? ???????? ? ??? ????? ??? ? ????????, ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???.

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

    ??? ??????, ???? ??????? ? ?????? ??????, ?? ?????? ??????????????? ?????????? ?????????:

    1. ????????? ???????: ?????? ??????? “?????? ??????” ? ????? ????????? ??????, ? ?? ??????? ????. ???????? ????????, ??? ???? ????? ???? ????????????, ? ????? ?????? ??????????? ???????.

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

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

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

    ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ???????????? ??? ?? ????? ????:

    1. ?????: ???????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ? ?????????? ?????????? ? ????????? ?????????.

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

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

    4. ??????????: ?????? ???????????? ? ?????????? ??????????????? ???, ??? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ? ???????????? ???????? https://sites.google.com/view/vavadatelegramposts

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

    ???????? ??? ???????? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ? ????. ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ? ????????, ????????? ??????????? ????:

    1. ????? ?? ????: ???????? ?????????? ???????? ? ? ?????? ?????? ??????? “??????”. ??? ??????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ? ??????.

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

    3. ??????? ? ?????????????: ???????? ? ???? ? ?????? ???????, ??? ?????????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ? ?????? ??????. ??? ????? ??????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ? ???????? ??????.

    ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ??? ??????? ???? ? ???????. ??????? ? ????? ???????????? ? ??????? ????????. ?????!

  32. Stephanieapags

    ??? ????????????????? ????????, ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???????????, https://bed-bugs-treatments.com/uncategorized/say-goodbye-to-bed-bugs-thermokills-cost-effective-bed-bug-heat-treatment-in-toronto/ ????????? ????? ? ??? ?? ????? ????? ? ??????????. ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ?? ??????.

  33. RobertDroto

    Be the first to receive the official Trump Memcoin and join our community
    Join the Trump Community. This is History in the Making!
    $TRUMP are now freely tradeable on the blockchain.

    Claim Airdrop $TRUMP NOW

    You personal promocod – “559yel”

  34. SelenaCot

    ? ??? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? http://hp-ad.sub.jp/nayami/nayamibbs/index.html ????????????. ??? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ? ??????????? ?????????????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ? «?????» ???????, ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????????? ???????? ? ????????? ??????? ???.

  35. Josephskync

    Start by removing any loose debris, such as trash, wrappers, and personal belongings. This will make it easier to access all areas of the interior.

    https://carsinspections.com/transmission/can-you-put-automatic-transmission-fluid-in-a-manual-car/

    Hydrogen is a lightweight and highly flammable gas, making its storage and transportation challenging. Hydrogen can be stored in several forms:
    Health and Hygiene: Car interiors can harbor dust, allergens, and bacteria. Regular cleaning helps to minimize these harmful elements, creating a healthier environment for you and your passengers.

  36. how to get cheap zyban without dr prescription

    Medicine information leaflet. Effects of Drug Abuse.
    how to get cheap zyban without dr prescription
    All information about meds. Get information here.

  37. can you get cheap avalide without rx
  38. online casino lTok

    You have made the point!
    affiliate online casinos https://casinoslotssaid.com/real-money-gambling-apps-iphone/ top 10 online casino websites

  39. Shailasaf

    ????????????, ????? ?????? ?????????
    we are confident that stem cell therapy has played a major role in his recent successful stemcellsincanada.com.

  40. online casino lTok

    You said it very well..
    online casino games for real money in india https://cryptogamblingguru.com/omaha-poker-online-game/ top american online casinos

  41. can i purchase avalide prices
  42. can you buy cheap zocor price

    Drugs prescribing information. What side effects?
    can you buy cheap zocor price
    Actual trends of medicine. Get information now.

  43. AaronDeacy

    ? ?????, ??? ?? ??????????. ??????? ??????? ???. ?????? ??? ? PM.
    ????? ??????? ?????????? ???????, https://kirovograd-biz.at.ua/forum/38-1350-1 ??? ????????. ???????? ? ???????? ??? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ????? ? ????? ??? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????.

  44. JasonCeR

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

  45. Www.YoUNgAnALpORn.cOM

    I blog quite often and I really appreciate your content. Your article has truly
    peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once a week.
    I subscribed to your RSS feed as well. http://www.younganalporn.com/aimc/yrb.cgi?aimc=1&s=65&u=http://cgi.www5c.biglobe.ne.jp/~fins/cgi-bin/fantasy_tmp.cgi

  46. www.YoungANALporn.COM

    I blog quite often and I really appreciate
    your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to
    bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once a
    week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

    Also visit my webpage: http://wWW.yoUnGaNalPoRn.coM

  47. how to get cheap actos for sale

    Medicament information for patients. Generic Name.
    how to get cheap actos for sale
    Some news about drug. Read now.

  48. is pantoprazole safe when pregnant

    Medicines information leaflet. Short-Term Effects.
    is pantoprazole safe when pregnant
    Actual what you want to know about medicine. Get now.

  49. how to buy nexium without dr prescription
  50. where to get cheap nexium without prescription

Leave a Reply