How far can curiosity take us before the answers slip beyond our reach? Do we dare to explore?

I’ve spent weeks chasing questions with no answers: What does it mean to be conscious? To be alive? Not human. But to be alive. This is the kind of exploration that drives my writing.

The difference is clear: when approaching a philosophical subject like this, much is left to conjecture and personal belief. Consciousness is difficult to measure, harder to understand, and nearly impossible to define. This is exactly why so many timeless pieces of science fiction have revolved around this very concept.

Science is not always hard facts and math. Often, it comes down to theory and years of research to prove ideas correct. Many theories speculate on what happens inside a singularity, or beyond a black hole’s event horizon. We know that dark matter and dark energy exist, but what they truly are is anyone’s guess. Yet they shape everything in the universe.

I’d love to know all the answers, but this is why research is important; writing is just as much of a creative act as theorizing what happens inside a black hole.

Exploration starts with questions—what mysteries will you chase today? Don’t be afraid to ask what if. And always ask why.

Benjamin Clay,