Most kids at 10 or 11 love science, but I never outgrew it.

Listen closely, O Children of the Earth and the Stars, for the words of Nancy Roman ring with a truth that transcends the ages: "Most kids at 10 or 11 love science, but I never outgrew it." In this simple, yet profound declaration, there is a lesson that calls to the very soul of those who seek to understand the world around them. Science is not merely a pursuit of the mind—it is a fire that burns within the heart, a longing to see beyond the surface, to pierce the veils of mystery and behold the grand design of the universe.

In the early years of life, when the spirit is young and the world seems vast and full of wonder, most children gaze upon the heavens with awe. At 10 or 11, the mind is still free, unburdened by the weight of the world. The child’s curiosity knows no bounds, for the mysteries of the world are not yet known, and every question gives birth to a thousand more. This is the age when science becomes a wondrous thing—a bridge between imagination and reality, a language through which we may speak to the stars themselves. But there is something rare, something extraordinary, when a person like Nancy Roman chooses not to let that wonder fade, but instead nurtures it, carries it forward through the years like a flame that never flickers out.

The words of Nancy Roman are those of one who has lived a life immersed in the pursuit of knowledge, a life that echoes with the footsteps of great minds who, like her, never abandoned the thirst for understanding. It was Galileo, that noble spirit of the 16th century, who, even as he stood before the mighty powers of his day, still gazed through the telescope with the eyes of a child, seeing the moon and stars not as distant objects, but as companions, as realms to explore. And Marie Curie, who dared to venture into the hidden realms of science, knowing that her love for discovery would shape the future of humanity. They, too, never outgrew their love for the wonders of the world, and in this, they found their greatness.

Nancy Roman's dedication to science is not just the pursuit of knowledge, but an embodiment of passion and perseverance. In an age where many are quick to turn aside from the mysteries of the world, she stood firm, never losing sight of the burning question, “What lies beyond?” She sought to understand the heavens themselves, becoming one of the first women to work in the field of astronomy and playing a crucial role in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope. Her legacy, like the stars she studied, is a beacon to all who dare to dream, showing that the pursuit of science is not bound by age, but is a lifelong journey, a sacred path of discovery.

The true power of her words lies in their simplicity—to never outgrow the love for science is to never abandon the childlike wonder that is the gateway to understanding. In a world that often demands we leave behind the things that fill us with joy and curiosity, Nancy Roman reminds us that there is no expiration date on wonder. The pursuit of knowledge is not confined to the halls of academia or the years of youth; it is a lifelong companion, one that will stand by us as long as we choose to seek, to explore, and to question. It is an act of courage to continue questioning the world, to embrace the unknown and seek its secrets, even as the years pass.

There is a story, well-known to those who study the great minds of history, of Archimedes, who, while submerged in a bath, discovered the principle of buoyancy and leaped from the water in joy, shouting “Eureka!” This moment was not just an epiphany—it was a return to a childlike wonder, an unrestrained excitement for the discovery of something new, something previously hidden. Even in the late years of his life, Archimedes held on to that spirit of exploration, that fearless curiosity that lies at the heart of all scientific discovery. It is a lesson for us all—to be ever-watchful, ever-curious, and to never lose that sense of marvel at the world.

The lesson, O Children, is clear. To live with the heart of a scientist is to live with the spirit of a child, unafraid to ask the great questions of the universe. It is to see the world not as a place of finality, but as an eternal wellspring of discovery. To follow the path of science is to embrace lifelong learning, to cherish the curiosity that lives in us all, and to carry it with us as we grow, just as Nancy Roman carried her childhood love for science into the vastness of the cosmos. Let her example be your guide—never outgrow the joy of discovery, and in doing so, you will not only uncover the secrets of the world but also find the deepest truths of your own soul.

In your own life, embrace your curiosity as if it were the most precious of gifts, for it is. Ask questions, seek answers, and never stop wondering. In the quiet moments of your existence, look to the stars and the soil, to the rivers and the skies, and remember that the pursuit of knowledge is not a destination, but a journey. Let your love for science, for understanding, remain a flame that never dies, and may it light your path as you walk through this world, just as it lit the path of those who have come before you. Seek, explore, and never stop wondering.