Sometimes asking questions and researching them together from different perspectives is more important than finding answers. Professors José van Dijck, Peter-Paul Verbeek and Tamara Witschge agree on this. Using four questions as a guide, we talk to them about why we want to know things and the role that science plays. One of the four questions is 'why do we want to know?'

Van Dijck: "This question contains a broad, general “we”, but it is very important who wants to know something. If a child asks something, it is different than if the questioner is a scientist. Asking questions is something individual, while at the same time being very universal."

Turn to page 21 of the Leiden2022 New Scientist Special for more. Click here to return to the overview of the 22 big questions of 2022.

Noel de Miranda, principal Investigator Cancer Immunogenetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, answers the question too: "It is in our nature to want to know more; not only to better understand ourselves and our environment, but also to find solutions to current problems."

Want to know more about Noel's answer? Quickly turn to page 10 of the magazine. Want to go back to the overview of the 22 big questions of 2022? Click here.