• Question: What is the most 'un-scientific' belief, superstition, or personal ritual you hold onto that you genuinely think helps your science or your career?

    Asked by durn532cusk3 on 1 Oct 2025.
    • Photo: Sophie Pain

      Sophie Pain answered on 1 Oct 2025: last edited 1 Oct 2025 11:35

      I genuinely think my experiments work better if I talk nicely to the instruments I’m using, and say please and thank you!

    • Photo: Andrew McDowall

      Andrew McDowall answered on 1 Oct 2025:

      Much the same as Sophie, each of my instruments seem to have characters and personalities and have to be treated individually. Some are easy going, some love attention and some hold a grudge if you ignore them. My zeta instrument is so thrawn and capricious I can only assume it’s been possessed by the misplaced soul of a cat. It developed an unshakable hatred of my boss, which was quite amusing to watch and worked out well for me. I’ve found I need to get to know each of them, learn their personalities and quirks, make friends with them if I can; reach a working arrangement with them if I can’t. I seem to get better results out them that way.

    • Photo: Bethan Davies

      Bethan Davies answered on 2 Oct 2025:

      Probably believing a little in fate and destiny. I believe there are key things that are meant to happen to us and key people we are meant to meet but we ultimately choose our own path, which determines the final outcome

    • Photo: Lucy May Newman

      Lucy May Newman answered on 2 Oct 2025:

      I agree with Sophie, talking to our instruments and equipment makes them work better and faster!

    • Photo: Heather Fox

      Heather Fox answered on 2 Oct 2025:

      i think it’s important to have a good mindset! It doesn’t change anything I’m actually doing when I’m carrying out an experiment but i do think things go better when you expect them to

Comments

  • Photo: Ellie M

    Ellie M commented on :

    If I have to choose between two options, I always choose the riskier option. Worst case, I learn a lesson, best case, something awesome happens! It’s never failed me so far…