In fishing, the more lines in the water, the better the chance of catching something. In science, this may or may not be the case. Some people prefer to perform one project at a time, staying focused on every experiment. Others prefer to balance their time among several projects, increasing their chances of both finding one that works and making a mistake.
Project Juggling: How Many Can You Handle?
by
Calculating How to Split Cells
by
When I first started cell culture, I was just maintaining a line of HEK cells so it was pretty much meat and potatoes cell splitting. I thought I had it all under control. Then I tried a 1:8 split into a 24-well dish…
Choosing the Right Cooking Solvent
by
Oil? Check. Heat? Check. Veggies, chicken, stir-fry sauce? Check. Check. Check. Kitchen full of smoke!? Fire alarm!?!?
Know When to Fold ’em (for the day)
by
Who knew Kenny Rogers was a scientific prophet? In the immortal words of The Gambler, you gotta “know when to walk away, know when to run.” Nowhere could this be more relevant than in the lab…
Make Your P.I. Love You
by
Success in science can depend just as much on managing our boss as it does on managing our project. Aside from making the day-to-day more enjoyable, a good working relationship with our boss is the first step towards a great recommendation. Since a reference letter can singlehandedly get an average application considered or a great application thrown out, it’s worth the effort to get one. So where do we begin?
Does Chemistry Impact Your Life?
by
Sunday (October 18th) marked the beginning of National Chemistry Week, so more than usual, we’ve got chemistry on the brain. During this week, organizations like The American Chemical Society run a number of great programs to increase awareness of chemistry, particularly among younger students. But what about the rest of us – what is the perception of how chemistry affects our lives directly?
PCR Tube Strip Labeling Tip
by
The very first things I ordered when I officially joined my lab were multi-colored Sharpies and a rainbow of lab tape. The color gives me a little bit of joy in a world of black, white, grey, and beige. Yes, I am the kind of person who wants tube racks in every different color. Yes, I am the kind of person who gets excited to use multicolored eppis. Yes, I am the kind of person who enjoys adding NaOH to phenol red solutions just to watch the yellow contrast with the bright pink.
Bar Chemistry that Could Save Your Life
by
Forensic science is an integral part of life these days. Whether it’s a blood test at a crime scene or a paternity test on Maury, chemistry plays a critical role in solving many modern mysteries. Unfortunately, many of the techniques are applicable after the crime has taken place. However, for one class of terrifying drug-assisted assaults, simple chemistry is taking a preventative role.
Training Your Autopilot: Assay Pipetting
by
Recently, we introduced a series called Training Your Autopilot: Mastering Mindless Tasks dedicated to improving laboratory techniques by standardizing the processes of performing experiments. Routine assays can be about as engaging as watching paint dry, but it doesn’t mean we should be careless or sloppy – quite the opposite. So in this installment, we build upon our previous tip and show how to integrate it into our assays.
What Threatens Us Most?
by
Anyone who’s ever been on a plane knows that our bodies are constantly battling to keep us safe. Whether it’s a pressurized cabin at 37,000 ft, or a brand-new hospital at sea level, infectious agents pose a serious threat to our health. Over the past several months, talk of the H1N1 pandemic has dominated the news, but is that truly our biggest threat?
