"I'm often asked if I believe in UFOs. I'm open to the possibility, but I need evidence. I need the aliens to land on the White House lawn, or at least in my backyard, and say hello."

"I’m not trying to convince you that science is cool. Science IS cool."

"I'm not a fan of the word 'nerd' because it implies that there's something wrong with being smart. I prefer 'intellectual powerhouse' or 'brainiac.'"

"I often think about how small we are in the grand scheme of things, and it makes me feel both humbled and empowered."

"We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the universe is in us."