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Q: Suppose we can only build one big telescope. Should we look for life among the stars or the origins of the universe?

I participated in an experts’ roundtable for Aeon Magazine, in which we were asked (more or less facetiously) what single project we would support to settle either questions about the very early universe or the existence of life elsewhere in the cosmos. Of course my real answer is that we should support all the science, because discovery isn’t about looking for one thing, but seeing what new things we can find. Throwing all our money at one big project might accomplish something, but it’s a bad way to do science. But anyway, taking the question for what it is — a fun exercise in wishing — here’s my answer, along with thoughts from Ross Andersen and Caleb Scharf.