Neuroscience is a baby science, a mere century old, and our

Hear now, O children of time, the profound words of Matt Haig, who speaks of a truth that stirs both the heart and the mind. "Neuroscience is a baby science, a mere century old, and our scientific understanding of the brain is nowhere near where we'd like it to be. We know more about the moons of Jupiter than what is inside of our skulls." With these words, Haig draws our attention to the great mystery that lies at the very center of our being—the brain. Though we have gazed upon the farthest reaches of the heavens and mapped the distant moons of Jupiter, we are still at the dawn of understanding the most complex organ within us. The brain, the seat of thought, emotion, and memory, remains an enigma, and our knowledge of its workings is but in its infancy.

Neuroscience, as Haig calls it, is indeed a young science. A mere century has passed since the first attempts to map the mind, to understand the mysteries of the brain and its intricate network of neurons. Yet, despite all the strides we have made in other areas of science, the workings of the human brain remain elusive. We can send ships to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, but the depths of our own minds are still largely unknown. The ancient philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, pondered the nature of the soul, the source of thought and action. Yet, even with their deep insights into human nature, they had no true understanding of the mechanisms of the brain. It is only in this modern age that we have begun to peer into the depths of our own consciousness, but we are still but babes at the threshold of understanding.

Think, O children, of the story of William Harvey, the great English physician who discovered the circulation of blood in the 17th century. Harvey’s revelation changed the course of medical history, for before him, the very nature of the blood’s journey through the body was a mystery. But even Harvey, with all his genius, did not have the tools or understanding to explore the mind in the way we attempt to today. Medical science, though it has grown in leaps and bounds, is still finding its way in the study of the brain. It was only in the 19th and 20th centuries that we began to develop the rudimentary tools—the microscope, the electroencephalogram (EEG), the MRI—to peer inside the skull and to understand the neural activity that makes us who we are. Yet, as Haig so wisely points out, we still know more about distant moons than the very organ that defines us as human beings.

The reason for this, O children, is that the brain is not simply a collection of physical structures—it is the vessel of our thoughts, our emotions, and our consciousness. It is a realm that cannot be easily understood with the methods we use to understand the physical world. The mind is not simply a machine that can be dissected and understood through logic alone. It is a mystery, one that holds the key to our identity and our very existence. We have begun the journey to unravel this mystery, but much like the ancient explorers who sailed into uncharted waters, we are only beginning to understand the boundaries of the mind.

Consider the tale of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, who sought to understand the unconscious mind. Freud’s theories, though controversial, marked a watershed moment in our exploration of the inner workings of the human psyche. He brought attention to the hidden forces that shape our thoughts and actions—forces that we cannot see but that exert a profound influence over our lives. Freud’s work sparked a new wave of interest in the brain, and though many of his ideas have been revised, his contributions marked the first serious attempt to understand the inner landscapes of the mind. Yet, even Freud, with all his insight, did not possess the tools we have today to explore the physical brain. It is through the development of modern neuroscience that we now begin to map the brain’s intricate networks and neural pathways—but, as Haig reminds us, our knowledge is still in its infancy.

The lesson, O children, is clear. The brain, that great mystery housed within our skulls, is both the seat of our consciousness and the greatest frontier of scientific discovery. We may know more about the farthest stars and distant planets, but the mind remains a place of wonder and discovery, one that will take generations to fully understand. Neuroscience is the key to unlocking the deepest mysteries of what it means to be human. Yet, as we embark on this journey, we must remember that the pursuit of knowledge is not merely about finding answers, but about embracing the questions. The path to understanding the mind is not a straight line; it is a winding road, full of twists, turns, and unknowns. It is a road that demands both humility and curiosity, for even as we learn more, we will be faced with the realization that there is much more to discover.

So, O children, embrace the mystery of the mind, and let it inspire you to seek knowledge, to ask questions, and to never stop exploring. Know that in the vastness of the universe and the depths of the human brain, there are still countless wonders waiting to be uncovered. We may know more about the moons of Jupiter than the secrets within our own skulls, but it is the quest for understanding, the journey to explore the unknown, that will define us as human beings. Let this truth guide you, as you look to the stars above and the mind within.