Patsy Mundy, age 13, of Cherloston, Va., for her question:

Why are people interested in charting the ocean floor?

There was a small man with a head full of figures. He jotted down notes as he went about his business. He was working out a problem about which he was curious. Some of his friends, no doubt, thought this was a waste of time. But he solved his problem. He was Albert Einstein and his figures led to the use of atomic energy.

This is the Age of Science ‑ a great ago in which we can follow our natural curiosity. Countless research projects are in progress. Each will lead to more knowledge and some of that knowledge will improve the world. No one can toll which project will yield, say, a new wonder drug.

Charting the floor of the ocean will lead to new knowledge about the sea. And the sea covers about 3/4 of our planet. We may or we may not be able to use this new knowledge. But at least we shall have a map of the ocean floor which may be useful later on.

A great American scientist had an answer to those who say that all this curiosity is a waste of time. He said that the more you know of creation, the closer you come to the Creator.