Category Archives: science

One morning, the phone in the lab rings

Revenge can be sweet. It doesn’t have to be for anything really bad, or serious. Sometimes it tastes just as good in answer to a bit of attitude, some haughtiness, someone getting too big for his/her britches. Or in this … Continue reading

Posted in humor, research, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Separating science and religion

When I was an undergraduate student in Jerusalem, I held a part-time job and worked full time in the summer one year as a bellboy and doorman at the Jerusalem Sheraton-Plaza Hotel. The multi-faceted experiences that I had could probably … Continue reading

Posted in research, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Advice on taking advice

Last week I pontificated wrote about my views on the traits that are necessary for a scientist to survive and indeed thrive in today’s world. And while there seems to be agreement that “luck” “fate” and “opportunity” are certainly useful … Continue reading

Posted in Education, research, science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Advice on taking advice

Resurgence and Resilience

There’s nothing like nature on a fine weekend to revitalize oneself after a rough week in the trenches laboffice. This weekend, we began Friday evening with a trip to the Neale Woods observatory to view the night sky telescopically–in particular … Continue reading

Posted in Education, research, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Frequent Flyers

Somewhat upset by the expensive airline tickets I recently purchased, I decided to post on some of my favorite frequent flyers seen recently in our backyard.       And finally, someone who looks like he’s just completed a rather … Continue reading

Posted in science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Egocentric and Eccentric–scientists and politicians

Scientists are well known for the eccentricity. Bill Bryson’s wonderful book “A Short History of Nearly Everything” gives some wonderful accounts of the scientists whose seminal findings these past 400 years are the basis of modern science. As one example, … Continue reading

Posted in humor, research, science | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chile-ing out–part 2

As we here in the American middle west gear up for another heat wave, with heat indices slated to range from 105-115 deg. F (due to the unusual humidity), I thought that I would share another few images of my … Continue reading

Posted in science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A pinch of salt in the lab

Ever see those amazing deaf-defying (thank you, Grant!) death-defying feats and the announcer at the end says: “Do not attempt to do this at home?” Well, do not attempt to do this in your lab. I don’t know why I … Continue reading

Posted in Education, humor, research, science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Chile-ing out

This post comes on the heels of the heat wave that we’ve been suffering through (and my dreams of glaciers and mountains), here in the American Middle-West, which in itself comes in the wake of the flood. It also comes … Continue reading

Posted in science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

It is what it is

As a scientist who spends a lot of time looking at data, I sometimes feel that we venture into an area where we are in danger of over-interpreting our results. On the one hand, it is a perfectly natural and … Continue reading

Posted in Education, humor, research, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It is what it is