A scientist's lifeDiary of a postdoctoral scientist, who works tirelessly in a lab somewhere.Today's George- September 10, 2008 A lot of us in the lab uses this particular compound to induce an effect on the cells, and as we have had problems before with the stocks solutions not working, I suggested that people use mine. Once in solution, the compound only is stable for 3 months anyway, and as I get a lot of aliquots out of one vial, it makes financial sense to share. To some extent. So with three people using my stockhttp://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/todays-george.html Tidy benches- September 10, 2008 Following on from sophster's comments regarding bench tidiness... I can live in a flat with a dust bunny colony per room, but my lab bench is cleaned more regularly. I think it is the size of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, and the effort required to move it, puts me off cleaning at home. Anyway, I think I learned to be clean since I had to do RNA work on my bench, as well as prepare qPCR plates, inhttp://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/tidy-benches.html Rednecks and fried things- September 9, 2008 I was reading this over at the BBC, and the first thing that struck me was: We fry things nobody ever considered friable - things like cupcakes, banana sandwiches and batter dipped artificial cheeseeven picklesWell, I wonder if they would find the Scottish delicacy of deep-fried Mars bars acceptable...http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/rednecks-and-fried-things.html Random musing- September 9, 2008 Putting your closed laptop on the sofa, so that it precariously perches on the armrest, and knocking it so that it lands screen side down. Is the bestest-way-ever to remove all the little dust and crumbs between the keyboard. I've done it three times now (all accidentally). And I still am able to update this blog using the said laptop.http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/random-musing.html Ho hum- September 9, 2008 You know, sometimes I think that some people are just born under an unlucky star. Someone was working on my bench, and left a load of tips and crap on it. I hate people doing that at the best of times, but this time.....why did it have to be....you guessed it....George And why did he have to do bug work on my bench Admittedly it was just putting plasmids into bugs to transfect (I think.http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/ho-hum.html Another random thought- September 8, 2008 If there was a scientific equivalent to Kotaku, I think I would read it religiously everyday. (Deadspin is a sister site - I don't read it, but I am guessing the editorial tone is similar) But there are other scientific blogs that give me an equivalent dose of amusement.http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/another-random-thought_08.html Another random thought- September 8, 2008 I wonder if, in academic science, there really is a higher proportion of INTJ personality types I can imagine that there would be a higher introverted percentage. Also, would the percentage increase or decrease as you go up the ladder to professor-dom (I think it would decrease) And yes, this was a thought spawned by beer drinking....http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/another-random-thought.html Nice!- September 8, 2008 Surviving Grady mentions a Taylor Teagarden, but I still think you can't beat Rocky Cherry for the current best name for a baseball player. And, now that the Marlin is back, I can mention casually how my beloved team is now only 1.5 games behind his.....and we're playing at home tonight...!!!http://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/nice.html I wonder...- September 8, 2008 If any scientist has been caught using their reagents for....non-scientific purposes. This comes from the day when I was ordering a controlled substance, the biologically active metabolite of testosterone. Yes, testosterone. Yep, that got me thinking.... I know of scientists who like running. I know of rock climbing scientists. I haven't met a body building scientist, but it's a fine line ofhttp://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-wonder.html WTF....- September 8, 2008 I walk into the lab area this morning, and on the door, there was a sign saying that there is (was) a flood in the t.c. area. And find that some of the hoods and incubators have been moved. Apparently, the ceiling gave way over the weekend. No, the ceiling didn't cave in, but water did. A lot of water, thanks to the inclement weather of late. So much water, that I think they have to replace thehttp://labcoats.blogspot.com/2008/09/wtf.html |