Perhaps you have been examining things a little more closely, turning them over in your mind. Assessing and reassessing the world around you; probing for answers or at least clues that might help to shed light on life’s fundamental meaning.

I have been doing that too. As a scientist and a writer, my inclination has been to discover hidden treasures, esoteric possibilities, new ideas and neglected corners.

The outcome of my explorations is a new essay collection titled Truth and Fantasy: Essays, published by Adelaide Books this month. It includes reflections drawn from my life, musings and questions — some of them inspired by conversations with you.

I hope you’ll join me on my mission to reevaluate the mundane and the fantastical. I’ve saved a seat for you, and I look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring new ideas together as we move into brighter times.