Nodding

A graph of "Understanding" versus "Nodding". The curve goes up and then has a long tail where more nodding means less understanding.

“Wait, I always thought those blank looks and nodding meant that what I was teaching was too easy…?”

30 Dec 2022

Practical

A theorist and realist are discussing a research proposal. The theorist asks, "So...can you do it?" The realist looks at the proposal and responds, "Your experiment would cost 10 billion, requires more energy than we can produce on Earth, and breaks 50 laws of practical physics." She answers, "So...maybe?"

“Well, 50 isn’t infinity, so can’t you just improve your equipment?”

28 Dec 2022

Snowball

A researcher stands on top of a hill and drops a snowball, saying, "A little hype is fine." At the bottom of the hill, the snowball has become huge, with a lot of momentum. The huge snowball has the label, "What it soon turns into."

“Hmm, who would have thought that would happen?”

26 Dec 2022

Exact

Two scientists are talking about a problem. The first says, "You made a lot of simplifications here." "I kept everything that mattered." "You removed 97% of the problem." The friend throws her arms in the air and says, "And now I have an exact solution!"

“But it’s not what I wanted to solve–”

“I know, it’s even better.”

23 Dec 2022

Sock Classification

A series of socks and their topological equivalence to standard objects. A new sock has no holes and so has genus zero, like a sphere. A used sock has one hole, so it has the same genus as a torus (genus one). The final sock is my sock, and it's what happens when you take the limit of the genus going to infinity.

In surprising news, my socks provided a new avenue into the classification of topological spaces.

21 Dec 2022

Future Problems

Graph of "Problems for future you" versus "Inability to say no". The curve rapidly increases.

“I really want to prove you wrong, but I’ll do it later.”

19 Dec 2022

Tunneling

A researcher with a pickaxe is digging a tunnel, with plenty of unknown obstacles they are about to hit. The caption: Research.

I’m forever bracing myself in research for the inevitable moments when things go wrong. But on the other hand, there are also those moments where things go right!

16 Dec 2022

Bribe

First panel: Two friends are in conversation. One has a bag of money in hand. The other says, "What's that bag of money for?" "Bribing a mathematician." "Uh...let me give you some advice..." Second panel (later): The person no longer has the bag of money anymore, and approaches the mathematician. He says, "I have a paper that needs a coauthor, but I require a favour--" She interjects, "Done!"

You would almost think papers are a sort of currency in academia…

14 Dec 2022

Constant Confusion

A graph of two functions versus time. The first is a dashed line which is constant, and has the label, "Confusion". The second is a solid linearly increasing line, with the label, "Growth".

If I wasn’t confused, it wouldn’t really be research.

12 Dec 2022

Chaos

Two friends are talking. One says, "Wow, you're so put together!" The friend says, "Thanks". He's sitting on a box that's shaking and has a swirling mess inside, labelled, "Inner chaos".

Even when you see the success of others, they often have a similar box.

09 Dec 2022

To the past To the present