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Why science?
When I go for a run outside by the lake, I feel the warmth of the sunshine on my skin even while I protect my skin with sunscreen. I try to use good form with my legs, my arm swing, and my feet, in order to maximize the forces propelling me forward while minimizing the impact on my joints. My hips and shoulders shift with each stride as I attempt to keep my balance over uneven ground. I lean forward slightly at the waist to bring my center of gravity further forward, literally leading me onward. Once I’m home, my latte cools according to the laws of thermodynamics and my body converts the food energy of my breakfast into usable energy for every body system; my nerves conduct electrical impulses that control vital functions or move my fingers across a keyboard. All of that is rooted in science, yet each of those micro-examples are just small moments from an ordinary morning!
Science is everywhere around us and within us. To me, it’s mesmerizing to look at something in nature (the stars at night, or a rainbow, or the colours of a field of wildflowers) and be able to understand the basic principles of science that bring those things to life. A lot of people ask if knowing these things takes the wonder out of the universe, but I think it’s really the opposite. The fact that the same gravity keeps the planets in their very well-known orbits also controls the path of a ball that I throw to my dog is just awe-inspiring to me!
But most of all, I love the fact that science is always asking questions, challenging its own assumptions, and imagining new ways to help us learn.
Why this book?
I get really enthusiastic whenever I talk about physics, astronomy, and space exploration. My own background started in physics, then I became a high school teacher in physics and various physics electives (electronics, astronomy, and the like). After taking many years off to raise our family, I went back to school myself for another degree in science writing. To me, writing this book is the perfect way to braid those three together—physics, education, and writing.
In one way, I wanted to write this book for myself as a 14 year-old. I was a very hardworking student, but nothing came easily to me in school. I sought out so many extra resources! The librarians at my various schools knew me well, and I always asked if they had any new books about 'space stuff'. Everyone kept telling me that if I wanted to become an astronaut I’d have to start by learning lots of physics and math. There’s truth to that, but looking back I can see that I also wanted to be able to understand how physics and math worked in physics. How did the puzzle pieces fit together? My summers at Space Camp lit my imagination in that sense, but I still wanted to learn more, more, more!
And in another way, I wanted to write this book for the everyday people around me who are curious about science but who perhaps haven’t taken science classes since high school. (If you enjoy solving puzzles, or if you stay up late or wake up early to watch a rocket launch, or if you make a beeline to the local science museum when you travel, then you’re exactly the kind of person I wrote this book for!) To use myself as example, I’m absolutely fascinated by music but I haven’t sung in a choir or taken lessons since high school. If someone wrote a book explaining music theory—the harmonics and intervals and resonances—by weaving those concepts into examples and stories, I’d be first in line to read that book!
If you were to add a chapter based on a future space mission, what would it be?
Well, there are several of these future missions already in the book!! Dragonfly’s mission to Saturn’s moon Titan is scheduled to launch in 2028 and it’s a tremendously exciting mission! Titan’s atmosphere is dense enough that the Dragonfly 'quadcopter' (a helicopter-like design but with four pairs of rotors) will be able to fly for quite long distances, and will carry a veritable science laboratory along with it to each site. As I wrote the book, it was thrilling to continually see new updates about the spacecraft passing test after test!
The DAVINCI spacecraft to Venus is also featured in the book, although it’s still in the design phase (and may unfortunately be in the crosshairs of budget cuts). DAVINCI will include a probe that will drop down to Venus’ surface, and my own imagination continues to spin by the design fact that it doesn’t even need a parachute—the toxic atmosphere is so thick and buoyant that the probe will just kind of float or drift downward, and its success is measured by hours rather than the months we’ve grown accustomed to with other spacecraft.
What’s next?
Well for me, I always love learning new things. I’d love to take up piano again, and I’m looking forward to having time to go running more often now that the book is out in the world. I’ve also begun working at our local science museum, and this is a role I absolutely love!
For my writing, people are already asking if I’ll write another book. On one hand, it broke my heart to have to leave out so much of physics! I barely even mentioned electricity and magnetism (my favorite subjects in physics!) and thermodynamics, and I didn’t even touch on complex topics like quantum mechanics. Those decisions were driven by the need to stay consistent and close to the main theme, weaving together the parts of physics that are most directly relevant to spaceflight (and to everyday life). Gravity, motion, energy, light—those are the foundations for any space mission. As for actually writing another book, maybe?
What’s exciting you at the moment?
Gosh, so much! In space exploration, I have to say that the Artemis II mission a few months ago lit up my enthusiasm more than any other mission has in a long, long time. In astronomy, the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory (which released its 'first light' images in June 2025) and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (launching in August 2026!) will be game-changing in the coming years!
In writing, I also write press releases for various astronomy observatories, so it’s always fascinating to research cutting-edge research and talk with the astronomers behind those discoveries. And in everyday life, everyday life is filled with wonder and curiosity and connections and relationships and (most of all) hope. Whatever I do in a day, I aim to do it with kindness, to do what I can to bring a bit of Good into the world.
Photo Credit: © Michael Schacht
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