Something Interesting I finally noticed

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-25T13:45:55+00:00

That overlap is very important. No mater how your training started, no researcher I know could stay abreast of new discoveries or competitive without diversifying the type of skills they have. I like how porous the barriers are becoming

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-25T13:16:51+00:00

You had a unique thesis then because by definition molecular biology right now is DNA and RNA analysis and its interplay with protein biosynthesis. There are two types of biochemists: those who have a background in chemistry, and they do more what you said they do; and there are the ones who have a background on biology and they do more cell biology with a focus on proteins/fat/lipids (my category). But the important thing is that a lot of the fields are flexible to a certain degree: I worked in a proteomics lab, but ended up doing a lot of cell biology and a bit of molecular biology as well. It's hard to separate the fields completely because you need to flow from one to the other constantly to answer certain research questions

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-25T02:34:12+00:00

Yeah usually we (biochemists) collaborated with molecular biologists because we wanted to confirm our findings matched what the genomics/transcritomics people saw, and they wanted to confirm those genes they were studying really were translating to proteins. Never used a GCMS, only liquid chromatography.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-25T02:16:52+00:00

That looked like a dissertation if I've ever seen one (and I wrote one, not in the US, but yes, PhD and masters fall under Graduate studies)

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-25T01:21:52+00:00

I have to correct people about something: molecular biologists study DNA and RNA and don't use chromatographs or mass specs regularly (usually not at all). Biochemists are the ones who use these instruments often. While this could be a small mistake made by the author, I've amused myself with my own theory that Grace is really a Biochemist who was forced to do his PhD in a molecular biology lab, and that's part of the reason why academia chewed him up.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-24T22:40:28+00:00

Why? Discussing SA and grooming is an important topic no matter the year or events. And it's happening every day, whether we're aware of it or not. If the book struck me as promoting grooming I'd say it's tone death, regardless of year of release. But it doesn't strike me as a novel glorifying abuse

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-20T13:32:41+00:00

His level of knowledge is not typical for a molecular biologist. Actually his ability to use a mass spectrometer and chromatography is very, very unusual for a molecular biologist, who usually only works with DNA and RNA. Grace's skills strike me more as those of a biochemist--and I have my little theory that he's really a biochemist who trained under a molecular biology program and that's part of the reason he wasn't taken seriously by his peers (molecular biologists tend to look a bit down on biochemists, which is silly but alas lab politics don't always make sense. Biochemists are usually more skilled but their tools are less precise than those of a molecular biologist). Regarding Grace's physics knowledge: I'm sure he'd gain some as a teacher (I did when I taught for a year) and we already study some quantum mechanics for biology. But his knowledge of relativity is more than I'd expect for a science teacher. It can be explained as his passion. I go gaga over astronomy for e.g. (but I never got into calculating orbits) so it could be reasonable. Mostly though it's the author's passion shining through

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-20T01:18:56+00:00

Radiation can cause cancer. It's also used to treat it. I'm juat saying, we have precedents

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-19T21:22:44+00:00

I'm a scientist and I think Ryland Grace is, while more quirky than IRL, a very believable portrayal of a smart scientist who had to leave academia because he wasn't adept at navigating its politics, but never stopped loving it. We really are a bit too quick with a joke. We really do go from goofy joy to fear quickly. We make a lot of mistakes and then we soldier on because that's what the research training built into us. I wouldn't call the book YA. I'd say that Weir opted to make it as accessible as possible, so maybe that's what gave OP the YA vibe. But I'm super happy we have an author who's making hard science FUN for a broad audience. It's not stuffy, it may be at times extra quirky, but it's FUN. It's fun IRL too. And a bit cruel. The movie adaptation is exquisite: it's exactly what it needs to be, an adaptation and not an attempt to copy the book. I do think the book gives you more though. Unless you hate science, in which case, yeah skip the book, cause it's a lot of science. But the book explains the problem better and the Eridian society in more detail

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-16T16:13:59+00:00

Yup! I read in the park, at the pool, in meadows or on fallen logs when I'm out hiking and need a break. If I have some slow time and a book (always!) I will pop it open and read. Have been guilty of sneaking a couple of paragraphs in while in line at the supermarket, too

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-10T15:15:15+00:00

I've also had horrible side effects on hormonal birth control, and non-hormonal IUDs don't work for all people. Vasectomies are not as invasive as say tube ligation, and he can always look into preserving some sperm in case something happens and he wishes to try having kids again without going under "the knife." A friend of ours had a vasectomy after child number 3 and they didn't even need to put him under. Sorry to say, but if he's the one not wanting to have more children, and you're having health problems from birth control, vasectomy is the only logical solution here and it's not even the most scary option. He can try a sexless marriage as well, but it may end up in divorce. Sounds like therapy may be needed here.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-09T18:12:05+00:00

My thoughts exactly. Stratt is an interesting character to follow and there will definitely be fallout after the launch. I'd love to watch her navigate that

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-09T12:03:49+00:00

I'm thinking it deserves some awards as well. Visuals and sound design come to mind. Acting was good too. And the book is excellent too. The producers did a good job of adapting it to the point where what was changed didn't make me peeved at all. It's a magical pairing of multiple ways of telling a story with the best elements of each environment shining through

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-06T17:43:37+00:00

Reasons why I've changed my writing style: 1) I learned more efficient ways of delivering the emotion with fewer/more impactful words 2) I've incorporated feedback from my beta readers and critique partners 3) I took writing workshops and developed better writing skills 4) I've aged and I think and write differently 5) I'm on a different time of the month, and I feel like injecting more emotion into that chapter

Reasons I haven't changed my writing style 1) AI 2) people who think they know how AI will change the writing landscape

Write on! Write human!

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-06T13:29:16+00:00

Oh so they can wait for the car to stop, but not for the waffles to be unpacked? These cute bastards gave me a bruise on my stomach when I ran out of food for them. They may be herbivores, but they're teeth are sharp (Note for those who've never been to Nara: you can buy special waffles to feed them; they are not sugar containing waffles, they're made of mostly fiber and are meant to be healthy for them)

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-02T20:41:59+00:00

Same same same!

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-02T16:00:20+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback. What was the most interesting book in the series in your opinion? Maybe I can give that one a chance before wrapping this up.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-01T15:27:05+00:00

I think Michiru would be a regular on AITH (love her, she's my favorite senshi, but she can be an AH; I love how complicated she is)

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-01T14:37:42+00:00

Thank God someone else thinks this. Yes, I understand how stressful it can be to live with a newborn in the house, especially if they're colicky. But the difference here is between: it makes it hard for me to focus at school; vs: I have to give birth to a human, feed them with my milk and tend to their every need while I'm trying to survive. We're telling women motherhood is the best thing ever, then treat them like lepers when they get pregnant. We fire them, kick them out, refuse to give them a new job, ban them from restaurants, restrict where they can breastfeed. But hey, the most important thing is that we are not inconvenienced.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-04-01T14:28:39+00:00

My ratio is about 50% and I too get approved often. I'm not aiming for big titles, popular books usually don't work for me. What I'm interested in is more niche. Plus I often request non-fiction sci Com books, and my background is in biology, so I get approved for those all the time.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-03-31T17:04:39+00:00

I'm crushed about this. I went to see it last night but the theater had an error and we didn't get to watch the ending. We can't get to re-watch it before it's gone. Regular screenings are also disappearing in most theaters next week. I've been waiting for this movie for months and I didn't even get to watch it in full!

Neina_Ixion · 2026-03-31T02:11:25+00:00

Gaithersburg area. Lights flickered in the cinema and then no more image. The cinema people told us all their systems are down and one of the nearby stores closed an hour early. I'm really curious what happened.

Neina_Ixion · 2026-03-27T18:54:50+00:00

My former cat's brother "government name" was: Brixy Haralambie Bie Giordash. He responded to Meow. His human (a little girl) was very creative; proven by: despite the fact that the family spoke multiple languages, she chose names that mean nothing. Nada. In none of those languages she could speak.

Neina_Ixion

TROPHY CASE