Science is fun. Kids know that. The moment we say, “Why is the sky blue?” or “I wonder what would happen if…” we are budding scientists, because science is about figuring things out–then discovering we were wrong and figuring them out again, better. Then doing it again, better yet.
As a science writer, I get to see this in action. I talk to scientists, attend meetings, listen to researchers argue (usually politely), look at the data, and do my best to communicate the whole process to the public. To the extent I stay mentally young, this is what does it. Science is fun.