Dr. Shini thinks that consciousness, among other phenomena, has remained unexplained for so long because we are only human, and we don’t have ultimate authority. Indeed, that, combined with science's methodological limitations and dependence on evidence that can be observed, measured, and tested, prevents us from solving some of the biggest mysteries of the universe.
But that’s the beauty of science. “The unexplained keeps us in wonder and curiosity. It keeps us asking questions—that is a good thing,” says Dr. Shini. She believes that life would be boring if it were fully explained, so she (jokingly) hopes that some things remain unexplained forever.
Science journalist Robert Krulwich totally agrees.
"To me, that's the beauty of science: to know that you will never know everything, but you never stop wanting to, that when you learn something, for a second you feel crazy smart, and then stupid all over again as new questions come tumbling in. It's an urge that never dies, a game that never ends. Science is a rough trade, played, I hope, forever."
