Star Trek's insight lay in the promise of going to the stars together, with well-defined stereotypes who could supply the emotional frame for the potentially jarring truths of these distant places.

'Star Trek' is notorious for looting the more thoughtful work of writers for their striking effects, leaving behind most of the thought and subtlety.

We have a name for people who create universes - they're called gods. There is no greater hubris than to think that we could take the place of godlike implications.

'Star Trek' is about a bunch of disparate people and what they're capable of when they work together.

Will searching for distant messages work? Is there intelligent life out there? The SETI effort is worth continuing, but our common-sense beacons approach seems more likely to answer those questions.

True twins share womb chemistry and endure many fateful slings and arrows together. The fabled connection between twins is true in my case.