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.

24,605 responses to “welcome to the human brain”

  1. where to buy cheap biaxin without prescription
  2. NathinEmurl

    You said that effectively.
    article rewriting service dissertation statistics help academic writer
    personal essay writing prompts pay to write a paper can t write essay

  3. LavillAlkar

    rpl27a antibody 100 ul – kupit’ online v internet-magazine chimmed
    Tegs: rasgrf1 antibody, rabbit pab, antigen affinity purified – kupit’ online v internet-magazine chimmed
    nfib antibody, rabbit pab, antigen affinity purified – kupit’ online v internet-magazine chimmed
    arl1 antibody, rabbit pab, antigen affinity purified – kupit’ online v internet-magazine chimmed

    znf860 antibody 100 ul – kupit’ online v internet-magazine chimmed https://chimmed.ru/products/znf860-antibody-100-ul-id=501118

  4. NathinEmurl

    You actually suggested it really well!
    umi dissertation publishing phd research proposal thesis proposal
    dissertation in english make an essay for me the help essay questions

  5. DavidEvirE

    ?????????? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ? ????? +375 ??? ?????? ???, ????????? ????????? ???????? ? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????

  6. Iyannasix

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

  7. how to buy generic sildalist without prescription
  8. RobertJef

    Encountered a thought-provoking article, highly recommend http://beijingpal.com/read-blog/5849

  9. Stephentwild

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

  10. Scotturirm

    ? ????????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??????????? ?????????????? ????? ??? ???????? ? ????? ????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????? ? ?????????? ? ????????????? ????????-?????????? ????? ???? ?????? ????????

  11. UlyssesGaX

    ? ??????, ??? ?? ?? ?????. ???? ??? ????????. ?????? ??? ? PM, ??????????.
    En etkili yontemler ortadan kald?rmak ayaklarda nelerdir, https://g37.com.br/brasil/nova-era-no-beisebol-revelando-os-desenvolvimentos-revolucionarios-da-temporada-de-2023-da-mlb/? Bakanl?k, taze liste ‘u duyurdu! Haber icerigi kaynak belirtilmeden al?nt?lanamaz, yasa d?s? kopyalanamaz ve gecilmeden izin/izin, ve/ve ayr?ca/ve baska yerde yay?nlanamaz.

  12. how to get cheap endep for sale
  13. SVSwhopivy

    ?????????????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ????????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ? ?????????????. ??? ????? ??? ????????? ????????? ????? ????? ? 10 ??? ???? ????? ????? ??????????.
    ????????????? ????????? ????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ????? 30 ????????? ?? ????????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ?????.

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

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

    ???? ??? ?????? – ????????????? ????

  14. Robertjaf

    Just read something intriguing sharing it with you http://spasibo.kz/bonus.php

  15. BertonSpate

    You actually mentioned this wonderfully!
    mozzart casino online betting sites betfair casino online
    casino max online casino lucky tiger casino no deposit bonus codes best casino online to win real money

  16. clonidine hci

    Medication information. Drug Class.
    clonidine hci
    Actual what you want to know about medicines. Get information now.

  17. NathinEmurl

    Awesome material. Regards!
    college thesis writing help buy essay online cheap top resume writing services
    writing a comparison essay writer essay how to write a summary essay of an article

  18. NathinEmurl

    Thanks, Helpful information!
    how to write a formal essay essays on service how to conclude a college essay
    how to write a concluding paragraph for an essay write a good cover letter engineering college essay

  19. trazodone side effects nhs
  20. Jamestroto
  21. BertonSpate

    Amazing material. With thanks!
    online casino casumo online casino arizona casino online malaysia free credit 2022
    caesars casino free slots online free spin codes for shazam casino nederland online casino

  22. where buy generic cialis soft price

    Medicament information for patients. What side effects can this medication cause?
    where buy generic cialis soft price
    All trends of meds. Get here.

  23. Kennethenrow

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

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

    1. ?????
    - ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????????, ????? ??? NetEnt, Microgaming ? ??????. ????? ?????????? ????? ????????, ?????????????? ???????? ? ???????? ??????????.
    - ??? ???? ? ??????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ????????????? ??????, ?????????? ?????? ?????? ? ???????? ?????? ??????. ?????? ????? ????? ???????????? ??????? ???????????, ????? ??????? ????? ?????????.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    4. ??????????? ??????
    - ??????? ??????, ????????? ?????? ?????? ? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????. ?? ???????? ??????????? ???? ???????? ? ?????????? ? ???????? ???????.

    5. ????? ?????????
    - ???? ??? ??????? ????????, ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ???????? ???????? ????, ????????? ????????? ?????? ??????.

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

  24. Brucemug

    ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????. ? ??????????? ?????? ?????????, ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????????? ????????? ???? +375 ?????? ??????????? ????? ??? ????????

  25. ThomasAmife
  26. Manuelsceda

    Melbet – ??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ? ????????? ??????? ????? ? ?????????? ??????? ????????? kometa casino kometacasino 30 online

  27. levofloxacin Levaquin 500 mg tablet
  28. Johnnyduamp

    ??? ????????? ? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ??? ????. ?????????????? ?????? – ??????????? ? ????????? ???????? ?????? ? ????, ??????????? ?????????, ????????????, ?????, ????????????, ?????????? ?????????, ??????????? ??????? ? ????????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????

  29. NathinEmurl

    Incredible a good deal of superb advice.
    thesis work purdue owl paraphrasing using essay writing service
    best dissertation help essay review service what colleges look for in essays

  30. NathinEmurl

    Regards, Numerous content.
    how to write reflection essay doctoral dissertations money can buy happiness essay
    penn state college essay papers help suny college essay

  31. Joefum

    ?????? ????? ??? ????, ??????? ??????? ?? ??????????.
    Traders must remember their own level of experience, their trading goals, guidelines on artificial intelligence and reputation of the signal provider, in order spend right.http://www.denisrizzo.com/formation/stage-de-perfectionnement-ceramique-prothesiste-dentaire/dsc_1135/

  32. Evanaw

    ? ???? ???-?? ????. ??????? ??????? ?? ??????????. ?? ????????? ?????.
    ????? ? ???????????? ?????? (??? ?????????? ????????, ????????? ?????? ????) ? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? «?????????????»; ??????? ?????????, ? ????? ???????, ????????, ?????? ??????, ????????? ??????? ??????? ? ????? ????????????, adventures.com.ru ????????????? ???????.

  33. how to get cheap differin
  34. BertonSpate

    This is nicely put. .
    juegos de maquinas de casino online online casinos in new jersey legit online casino usa
    best online casino usa no deposit casino in auckland new zealand yahoo online casino

  35. NathinEmurl

    You’ve made your point extremely nicely!.
    dissertation defense advice help with dissertation writing college essay plagiarism
    essay about myself for college buy essay online college acceptance essay

  36. NathinEmurl

    Cheers. A good amount of tips.
    essay writer software pay someone to write my paper cheap best custom writing website
    essays in college writing a conclusion for a research paper reflective essay on writing

  37. BertonSpate

    Very good info. Thank you.
    firekeepers online casino free spins no deposit bonus las atlantis no deposit bonus admiralbet online casino
    blackjack spielen online casino best online poker sites australian online casino netent

  38. can i purchase tricor without prescription
  39. NathinEmurl

    Truly quite a lot of great material!
    thesis writer write my research paper for me how to write an informative essay
    top essay writing services parts of research proposal all college essays

  40. NathinEmurl

    With thanks, Lots of postings!
    how to write my college essay dissertation research help how to write a scholarship essay
    online essay writing jobs buy research paper how to write a introduction to an essay

  41. AaronBes

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

  42. can i order ventolin pills
  43. BertonSpate

    Nicely put. Thanks a lot!
    payment methods online casino esport betting caesars casino online rewards
    list of online casinos in australia best online casino colorado online casino interac payment

  44. GeraldMed

    ?????????? ????????? ? ?????? ? ?????? ?????????????? ? ?????? ??????????? ????????????? ????????? ? ?????????? ?????. ? ???????? ??????? ???????????: ????? ? ?????? ?????????, ??????????? ? ????????? ????????, ?????????? ??????????, ????????? CRM ? ???????????????? ??????????? ????????? https://Webstudiya-Landing.ru/

  45. PhillipBor

    ?????????? ?????? ?? ????????? 1?-??????? ? ?????? ? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????: ?? ?????????????? ?? ??????? ? ??????????? ?????????????. ????? ???????????? ??????: ??????????? ????? ??? ????????? ??????, ?????????? ? ?????????, ?????????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ? ????????????? ????????? https://webstudiya-moscow.ru/

  46. how to get cheap atarax without insurance
  47. BertonSpate

    You made your point!
    new au online casino nhl betting apps online casino wallpaper
    ab casino online betonline reviews best online casinos latvia

  48. buying zithromax without a prescription

    Pills information. Brand names.
    buying zithromax without a prescription
    Best about medication. Get information now.

  49. Simonslind

    Spotted a noteworthy article, thought you’d like it http://www.sakhd.3nx.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2970#2970

  50. Tyronegribe
1 ... 40 41 42 43 44 ... 493

Leave a Reply