Alt text:
==COSMOLOGY==> ‘Uhhh … how sure are we that everything is made of these?’
You must log in or register to comment.
Somewhat related, back in highschool I was really enjoying chemistry class. Super fun stuff, definitely a career path. Then when we were doing the math practices, I got a question wrong that I knew I combined correctly.
I asked the teacher and she said “oh yeah that one just doesn’t follow the rules” instantly killed my enjoyment of chemistry.
Aw that’s too bad. That response I’m sure you’re paraphrasing, but “that one doesn’t follow the rules” is the best part of science.
It means our rules aren’t good enough, or we don’t understand that one well enough. Figuring it out can be an entire career of discovery. And the reasons why can be fascinating and inspiring to more discoveries!
In this case, it was probably the teacher not being knowledgeable enough to explain a more advance theory that goes beyond the simple model he was teaching. What’s sad is that the teacher didn’t take the opportunity to dig deeper with the student, it could have been very motivating for the student to feel like he found something that went beyond the normal curriculum.
It’s similar to what I felt learning organic chemistry. That’s why I ended pursuing a career in math.
You aren’t following the rules! You’re supposed to nonchalantly get the correct answer and thus discover a new rule that we nowadays know as the Galapagon Principle.
One of my great regrets in high school chemistry was that I was born too late to discover some pattern and have it called Liz 's Formula or whatever.
What is this author for XKCD’s background? He seems to know a lot about a lot of complex subjects. I’m always impressed.
Degree in physics. Worked for NASA as a programmer and roboticist. Full time “cartoonist” since 2006.
Sounds like he’s related to this guy
At my work, we meet astronauts fairly often (I met Jonny Kim last year), and it’s amazing how many of them are like this. They’ll usually pass out their headshots that have their bio on the back, and the number of advanced degrees and impressive accomplishments is jaw dropping. Like I feel like I’d think my life was worthwhile if I did one of those things by the end of it, and a lot of the astronauts are hardly more than half my age. And to really rub it in, they all seem incredibly genuine, personable, and well adjusted.
There are a giant number of people who want to be astronauts, and NASA only needs a small number in a given year, so they can pick the very cream of the crop.
At least we’re sending space our best.
Could you imagine what the world would be like if we let their like lead our countries?
Ah, a meritocracy instead of a plutocracy. Maybe someday, if we survive.
When you rule, you get to pick what qualities have merit, which is how we end up of administrations of The Master Race or lispy Spaniards, or ruthlesd billionaires.
We’re still trying to figure out how to get to government tha implements public-serving ideas.
