jetlag

Earlier this week I returned from three weeks in Australia (!!) - about ten days in Shark Bay, Western Australia on a geology field trip sampling stromatolites (and ooids!), and a week on vacation in Sydney.  The entire trip was amazing and outrageous and fun.  I spoke with a lot of cool scientists.  I took a lot of pictures, and I invite you to give them a look through (but not in one sitting - there are just too many!).

Shark Bay / Sydney 

The links are a public link to my photo albums on facebook.  You should be able to view them, even if you don't have a facebook account.

ice skating

 photo of John Belusi ice skating via here

Yesterday a few friends and I went ice skating!  There is a rink in the MIT athletic center that is free for students and just a few dollars to rent skates.  My first go round was super wobbly and I stayed right next to the wall, but after a few go-rounds I was feeling a bit better, looking slightly less stiff and awkward, and having fun!  It was a fun way to see each other before everyone leaves for Christmas break and IAP.

compiling

Super exciting scientific data is being collected on my behalf by a robot.  I think I'll go Christmas shopping!

cold!

Today's 15mph winds and freezing temperatures removed any doubt that I had about purchasing a long down coat.  I can't wait for my new Moosejaw jacket!  (And they were having a sweet promo where you get $100 of free mystery merch - score!)

 

This evening after work my lab group went out to dinner at Dante to say goodbye to two visitors who are leaving soon - Xiaolei and Ben.  My office is going to feel so empty without these guys.  I will miss them.

confirmed

I just submitted my application for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship!

I've lost count...

of the number of times lab tape has saved my booty (or heel, in this instance).  Yea for being able to wear ridiculous shoes!

fall is...

a new school year.
harvest pumpkin soup.
fleece and a scarf.



hello blurry aimee!

torrents

Those are my clothes - drying in my office. This is not ok.

It is been raining up a storm for two days straight now. And I haven't yet discovered a way to get to and from work without ending up a wet beaver (referring to the MIT mascot, obviously).

Thank you Marie, for saving my soaking wet booty by bringing me some sweats to change into. Now I'm at work in pajamas, but at least I'm dry!

move over Alan Hills 84001

I have a new favorite meteorite: the Orgueil Meteorite.


I learned about this meteorite in Echoes of Life, a book about the history of organic geochemistry (what I'm studying in grad school). The Orgueil meteorite landed in France in the 1860s, and was sealed in a jar until the 1960s, when scientists had developed the instruments (GC-MS) that could analyze it for signs of life (organic molecules). They soon realized that someone had glued bits of pollen to it, and disguised the glue with coal dust. " Whilst the perpetrator is unknown, it is thought that the hoax was aimed at influencing 19th century debate on spontaneous generation by demonstrating the transformation of inorganic to biological matter."

groan if you love science jokes

My adviser gave me a textbook to read when he discovered that I am mass-spectra illiterate. I began by reading the Preface, where I discovered this groan-worthy passage:

"Again, I am indebted to Dr. Willi Richter for a quote from Mao Tse-Tung that provides the raison d'etre for the third edition: 'We are obliged to organize the masses.' "