I sometimes hear that science is a threat because it turns humans into “machines,” and otherwise removes the magic of life.   I’ve sometimes had a fleeting thought of this type, for instance, while first encountering “Terror Management Theory” (I got over it).

Does science ruin the magic of life? In this entertaining TED monologue, BBC radio show host Robin Ince argues more science teaches us about the astonishing behavior of the universe, the more we stand in awe. Understanding does not remove the wonder or the joy.  He offers many anecdotes and thought experiments.  For instance, one of the atoms that is now part of you was once part of Napoleon’s knee;  “We are all totally recyclable.”