Recently, our family took a trip to the Griffith Observatory, the historic public astronomy destination with its beautiful views of the Hollywood sign, the Pacific Ocean, and the downtown skyline of Los Angeles.
Being a resident of Southern California, I feel really blessed to have such a wonderful science attraction in my own backyard.  And with the special significance of this year and our trip to Griffith, I am even now more appreciative.
This year, the Observatory is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s pioneering …

Stephen Hawking has many things in common with some of the great scientists of our time, his understanding of the intricacies of the universe rivaling that of Albert Einstein.
When Stephen Hawking was born, he came into our world exactly 300 years after Galileo Galilei left.  Two great scientists, connected by their birthdays, separated by three centuries.
Yet, the most remarkable aspect of Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science is his ability to communicate his ideas to others, especially those outside the sciences.
And of course, this is made even more remarkable given what …