Comics about mathematics, science, and the student life.

Suck

Two scientists are in a rowboat near a whirlpool. One of the scientist cries out, "Get us away from here!" "What is it?" "A science problem that's going to suck us in!"

Honestly, the whirlpool tends to be much bigger and often sucks in more than two lone scientists.

30 Nov 2022

Redefined

A scientist is solving a problem for a friend. The scientist says, "Here's the solution to your problem." The friend looks down at the solution and says, "Thanks-wait. What are all these new symbols? Where are my variables?!" The scientist answers, "Oh, they were terrible to work with, so I redefined them to be more natural." Pause. "You're welcome."

If a mathematician hasn’t redefined your initial problem, you might just be a mathematician yourself.

28 Nov 2022

Potential Barrier

A woman stands in a "U"-shaped function. Above her is the label, "Where you are". Outside of the U, there's the label "Where you want to be". The U is a potential barrier of your own creation.

Unfortunately, there’s no quantum tunneling in here.

25 Nov 2022

Connection

A scientist and his daughter look up in the sky where he is pointing. He says, "It's there." She says, "I don't see anything Dad." He says, "You just need to squint more." Caption: A theorist connecting their work to the real world.

I’m publishing this a day before Erica Thompson’s wonderful new book Escape from Model Land. This book is a treasure trove of ideas about the limitations of models and how we should question their foundational assumptions. If you work with models, please check out this book!

23 Nov 2022

Fit

A scientist tries to shove a blob labelled, "Any Problem" into a cubby labelled "The tools from your PhD". The scientist says, "Come on, I know it will fit!"

“I’m going to milk these tools for everything they’re worth!”

21 Nov 2022

Reset

A graph of "How much I think I know" versus "Time". There's a steady linear increase until grad school, where it plummets before slowly increasing again.

Graduate school: Realigning your expectations.

18 Nov 2022

Brick Walls

A researcher stands in front of three brick walls labelled, "Project 1", "Project 2", and "Project 3". Caption: Don't load yourself up only with projects that feel like brick walls.

Going for big impact is great, but it’s nice to at least have something to switch your mind to when you’re stuck.

16 Nov 2022

Explicit

A student stands on a ledge looking at a huge gap with very thin sticks protruding along the gap that act as a "bridge". The other side has the label "Result" and the sticks have the label "Explicit steps in a proof for too many papers".

It’s almost as if the researchers have spent so long looking at this problem that they’ve internalized all of its difficulty for new readers…

14 Nov 2022

Advocate

A graph of "How cool X seems" versus "Time spent studying X". The relationship is linear, and where both are high, there's a label: Why it's hard to get others excited about X.

So this is why my family and friends look at me in horror and confusion when I insist on explaining them a proof or concept from my research that probably requires huge amounts of background study.

11 Nov 2022

Small Steps

A student walks up a long slope towards the top, where there's a sign labeled "PhD". The student tells himself, "Don't look up, don't look up. You still have a long way to go." Caption: Focus on the next few steps.

Exercise some self-discipline now, witness some great sights later!

09 Nov 2022