Astronomer Steve Kawaler never wants to take a break from considering the cosmos. But if he does, it\u2019s to play baseball \u2014 preferably at first base.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaseball provides a connection with people and the history of this country,\u201d Kawaler says. \u201cIt uses a different part of the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
His life\u2019s work is a little less social \u2014 and it\u2019s also a direct paradox of his role at first. There, with his feet dug deep into the dirt, the floating white globes are easy to see, and they come directly to him.<\/p>\n
At work, though, they don\u2019t. He has to find them. And they\u2019re billions of miles away.<\/p>\n