they make me look socially capable

Sitting here working on my prelim with the documentary "DNA: The Secret of Life" on in the background for inspiration. There is so much elegance in the structure of the double helix, though not as much in the story of the quest. Rosalyn Franklin is one of the few female role models available in scientists, and this documentary gives her her due.

The sociology of science fascinates me. We are such strange creatures, scientists. All to some degree or another out of touch with reality. Not always the most socially well-adjusted. Competitive. Intelligent. Idealistic. It's a different world than anywhere else, a mixture of disclosure and keeping your ideas under wraps to avoid being "scooped." Where competition is the lifeblood of the game, but forgotten in the day to day of the work. Where jokes involve red blood cells or helical structures. Or forgotten E. coli cultures. Like I said, science is an odd little world.