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How to Enjoy Knowing What You Don’t Know
15 discoveries to fire up your curiosity
Some professions, such as science, engineering, and the creative arts, praise and prize curiosity. It’s easy to understand why. Curiosity unlocks the imagination and unleashes that particularly human power to see and pursue originality. When curiosity is downplayed, under-nourished, feared, or condemned as dangerous, we all suffer. Cultural vibrance wanes. Indifference reigns. Minds wither.
How then can we nurture the desire to learn something new?
My recommendation might sound a bit crazy or intimidating, especially for those uncomfortable with science. But take it from me, visiting websites that list university or government research laboratory technology available for commercial licensing will sharpen your synapses, stretch your vocabulary, and brighten your mood. It will also ignite your curiosity to learn more about everything from desalination to degenerative disorders.
To begin, search for technology transfer or intellectual property offices on your favorite research institution websites, and keep scanning and scrolling. Wander around through the various categories. Click on some links that feature something interesting or important to you: disease treatments, diagnostic advances, climate protection, better batteries. You’ll…
