We can all tell when someone ate a piece of garlic bread, or just brushed their teeth, or should have brushed their teeth, but it turns out there is far more to learn from a person’s exhalation than what they ate for dinner last night. Indeed our breath exhibits an individuality that is almost on a par with our fingerprints.
Flyceum: Your Science. Your Career.
We’re following in the tradition of open discussions among scientists that has resulted in important advances in both science and society.
Dirty Mouth? Clean It Up with Cancer Screening
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Who Opened the Thiols? Oh- That’s Your Breath?!
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Dear Dora,
A new postdoc in lab has the worst breath I’ve ever smelled, but nobody knows him well enough to tell him to do something about it. What to do? Help!
– Jaime, graduate student
Sensational Science: Army Origami to Space Infections
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Another month, another list of sensational science headlines offenders. Below I’ve outlined a couple of other recent examples of how the headlines that the popular press shares with the public don’t always match up with what the scientific press actually reports. Or, as in most cases, how the report is twisted in such a way to make for a good “story”.
Because in Space… It’s Always 5 O’Clock Somewhere
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Yesterday, April 12th, marked the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight. During his 108-minute voyage, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed an entire orbit of Earth in Russia’s first Vostok mission. And to commemorate that flight, a new space beer is currently being perfected and tested in various zero gravity environments.
Reviewing Papers from Your Past- Is It Legal?
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Dear Dora,
Recently my PI asked me to review a paper from my graduate lab- is that allowed?
-EM, postdoc
Could You Be the Worst Labmate in the World?
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The bad news: like any work environment, labs are not exempt from employing the occasional pain-in-the-a–. The good news: given the nature of the career path, even the worst of labmates will be moving on to annoy a new group of people in a few years. The great news: even if you’re that stick-in-the-mud in your lab, it’s never too late to change your ways.
Innovation: Concept to Commercialization
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So you’ve had your eureka moment and you’ve done the rough math to figure out that your innovation is probably worth pursuing. Now what?
Curry: Now Good for Detecting Explosions, Not Just Causing Them
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Growing up, curry night was always one of my favorite family dinners. Mum would throw together an Indian chicken jalfrezi with rice and poppadums and mango chutney. Delicious! But little did I know that hidden in that curry was a multi-talented chemical.
Is It 2-Week or 2-Hour Notice? Telling the Boss You’re Leaving
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Dear Dora,
I’ve been a postdoc for 2.5 years and I’ve been casually looking for jobs on the side and a company just made an offer I really don’t think I can pass up, but they need me to start as soon as possible and there’s not much room for pushing the start date back. My PI has no idea. I know it’s going to be ugly – how should I tell the boss I’m leaving?
– Sneaky, Postdoc
Graduate School by the Numbers: Aftermath of the Decision
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If I needed a sign that I had chosen the right program – and my guilt pangs were a sure indication that I did – the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at Super-Fancy Program called me personally to award me a fellowship (just for being a “top recruit”!). Now, I can afford a moving truck and food to stock our new closet-sized home.
Three things overwhelmed the aftermath of the decision-making process:
