Observation is fundamental to science. In fact, one could even argue that science is observation, nourished and channeled for the purpose of better understanding what our world is and how it works.

When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. When testing a new pen, Leonardo da Vinci was in the habit of scrawling the phrase dimmi — tell me.

Scientists often struggle to explain their research to nonscientists, whether it’s at a cocktail party, on an airplane, or when speaking to a journalist. For Julie Rorrer, the struggle began with a ...