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Lab anxiety (mander.xyz)
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[-] Dicska@lemmy.world 93 points 3 days ago

Maybe it's just me, but inconclusive results are still results, and get you a tiny step closer to the solution by redirecting you in a different direction.

[-] WalrusDragonOnABike@reddthat.com 59 points 3 days ago

What if they results was "vacuum chamber got sprayed with media when I left the lid loose again" and "glassware that is sealed and put into the autoclave once again shatters"?

[-] kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 3 days ago

"Successfully replicated the findings of Miller, et al, 1962 that dropping the test tube on the way to the spectroscopy machine makes the custodial staff annoyed with you"

Solving the replication crisis, one untied shoelace at a time!

[-] cenzorrll@piefed.ca 22 points 3 days ago

"Decontaminated vacuum chamber to prevent future false positives"

"Glassware temperature limits tested and confirmed"

[-] Dadifer@lemmy.world 28 points 3 days ago

🤣🤣 The process is going to have inefficiencies

[-] X@piefed.world 22 points 3 days ago

We live in an inherently lossy universe. We can do our best, but entropy comes for us all.

[-] Liz@midwest.social 6 points 3 days ago

Denovo Techniques in Waste Generation and Cost Overruns: A Look Into the Walrus-Dragon Lab Methodology

[-] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 3 days ago

"I forgot to add the sample and lyophilized pure water for 40 hours."

"Someone deviated from the SOP while doing dishes and now there is unidentified black material in my sample."

"I accidentally dropped and broke a vial, losing several weeks worth of work done by myself and others. Recovery and repurification was not possible."

"My boss changed their mind partway through the study, so it was abandoned."

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 11 points 3 days ago

And they should be published.

[-] ameancow@lemmy.world 46 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I get anti-science vibes from this and I don't know if it's deliberate but I hate it. Oversimplifying the scientific process and highlighting the worst parts without explaining what these sacrifices and contributions work towards.

We live on a vast, vast historical mountain of skulls and sorrow and pain and suffering to have a world where you can drive for 5 - 30 minutes in any direction and get antibiotics and fever reducing medication, where we can work on a chair all day and earn enough to go to a grocery store and buy food that you know won't kill you or give your kids dysentery.

We do better honoring these sacrifices than whinge that science isn't giving back enough for its cost. You owe ALL your comforts to this process that is largely misunderstood or even actively attacked. It makes no sense to me.

If you want to advocate for newer forms of scientific research that don't rely on things like chemical exposure or animal testing, that's fine, lets do that. Let's not throw away the scientific process just because you don't fucking understand it.

[-] bananabenana@lemmy.world 46 points 3 days ago

Na this is actual intrusive thoughts from someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in a lab. It's legit. I felt seen reading this comic. The plastic waste makes me shudder. Also experiments actually just fail sometimes, not even giving a positive or negative result. The method went wrong or a reagent was cooked.

[-] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 days ago

Same. I've used tens of thousands of pipette tips. I can't imagine what my lifetime plastic consumption is like compared to your average person. I'm guessing I'm like a small neighborhood.

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago

Also experiments actually just fail sometimes, not even giving a positive or negative result. The method went wrong or a reagent was cooked.

You should know better than to start an experiment on Tuesdays!

[-] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 3 days ago

I can relate too.

[-] Phineaz@feddit.org 18 points 3 days ago

It took me a second to see your angle. I gotta say tho', I have felt this way many times and I will continue to do so. To someone from the field, it is quite relatable. I assume it is also intended in such a way.

[-] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 days ago

I was maintenance in a lab for a few years and these seemed to be common jokes, especially the plastic.

Just got a reply to it from a friend who's a tech there "yep, pretty much"

[-] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 37 points 3 days ago

This is why all centrifuges should be hand-cranked.

Chase the lab blues away with some vigorous physical stimulation.

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 3 days ago

Sorry, but there's been a blanket ban on any "vigorous physical stimulation" in the lab ever since the incident

[-] tomenzgg@midwest.social 9 points 3 days ago

Oh, you were one of them that worked with the dolphins?

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago

I'm not at liberty to confirm or deny.

[-] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 17 points 3 days ago

Are you telling me I could get paid to hand-crank my centrifuge? I've been doing it for free all these years.

[-] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 3 days ago

In lew of a hand cranked centrifuge, we installed a Crank machine next to the centrifuge, for "~~reforming offenders~~ stimulating researchers by teaching them habits of industry."

[-] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 days ago

...and does nothing useful.

So a day at the lab then.

[-] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 31 points 3 days ago

I find it helps if you reuse the animals you kill for dinner that night.

[-] ThePyroPython@lemmy.world 36 points 3 days ago

Cons: cause a global pandemic.

Pros: free dinner.

I see no problem with this.

[-] bitcrafter@programming.dev 6 points 3 days ago

Nah, just cook them very, very, very thoroughly first, and you'll be fine.

Include high-concentration strong base in the cooking process if it involves prions!

[-] bitcrafter@programming.dev 9 points 3 days ago

I mean, that's just basic cooking technique!

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 6 points 3 days ago

If the prions are denatured there's probably not much left of your meal

Low-guilt free dinner!

Also a global pandemic has historically been good for the planet.

[-] janus2@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 days ago

any White Castle near a lab: IT'S 100% BEEF I PROMISE

[-] TerrabyteMarx@quokk.au 6 points 3 days ago
[-] Palerider@feddit.uk 4 points 3 days ago

Or...

Same shit different day.

this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
499 points (97.5% liked)

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