The Shape of Wonder: N.J. Berrill on the Universe, the Deepest Meaning of Beauty, and the Highest Form of Faith

“We, each of us, you and I, exhibit more of the true nature of the universe than any dead Saturn or Jupiter.”

Looking back on her trailblazing work, which confirmed the existence of dark matter, astronomer Vera Rubin reflected: “I sometimes ask myself whether I would be studying galaxies if they were ugly… I think it may not be irrelevant that galaxies are really very attractive.”

Far from a mere diversion of the senses, beauty may just be the dialogue between nature and human nature — our mos...