“These spiritual atheist scientists are seeking a core sense of truth through spirituality — one that is generated by and consistent with the work they do as scientists,” said Elaine Howard Ecklund, a sociologist at Rice University and lead author of the new study, which will appear in the June issue of the journal Sociology of Religion.

According to Ecklund, many of the scientists viewed both science and spirituality as “quests for meaning” that do not invoke faith. Religion, on the other hand, requires belief without empirical evidence, and is thus incompatible with the pursuit of science.