It’s been a long day. The PCR machine broke (again), your buffer solution may be contaminated and you’ve just realised that your data is all non-parametric so your statistics could be totally off. Although the gods of scientific endeavour may not be smiling on you today, you know deep down that you’re still a grade A science nerd and you just need a little ‘pick-me-up’. So, as a favour to your inner geek, we at the brain bank have compiled a list of some of our favourite science-themed gifts
Go ahead, give your brain a treat!
1: Giant microbes.
If, like me, you are a sucker for anything cute, fluffy and quirky you’ll most likely love Giant microbes. From Cholera to the Common Cold, these fuzzy oddities somehow 
succeed in making microbes mesmerisingly cute. As a neuroscientist my personal favorite has to be the brain cell. But, putting my serious science hat on, I did notice a problem with the product description online. Specifically, the website states that ‘the more brain cells you have the smarter you are’ – this is not necessarily true. Note that studies of Einstein’s brain did not find any significant differences in the number of brain cells coiled in the genius’s cortex. Instead there was some speculation that Einstein’s brain contained more glial cells than neurons – these specialised cells support brain cell function, fixing them in place, keeping them supplied with oxygen and nutrients alongside many other important functions. So, perhaps we should petition Giant Microbes to make Bobby Brain Cell a new friend… Glenda Glia perhaps?
2: Euler’s Identity Romantic Geek Art
A few years ago my partner bought this for me as a valentines present and there is nothing I don’t love about it. The text is the perfect mix of geeky and cute, plus the disclaimer he gave me when I ripped open the wrapping was so beautifully him….On opening the gift he looked at me and, with a serious expression on his face, said “I’m glad you like it but of course you do know that nothing is actually more beautiful than Euler’s Identity…and if that upsets you, you obviously don’t understand maths”. Somehow this comment made me love him more and we are now married…so, there’s another win for the geeks. If you want to check out this and similar products they can be found here.
3: Serotonin Necklace.
For days when you need a little boost, how about wearing a little piece of happiness around your neck? This white metal neurotransmitter necklace is just the right balance of quirky and cute and will certainly get noticed – I do love wearing it around the lab! Check out this website for more products – personally I think the Dopamine necklace may also be quite rewarding (boom boom)…
4: Try Science.
For academics and fans of the amazing xkcd this may be just the t-shirt for you. My brother-in-law bought me this for Christmas and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Actually, I’m going to admit to a bit of a crazy biologist trade secret here. Biology is one branch of science which many lament does not always follow logic… It’s not unusual to run two identical experiments on successive days and get very different results (dam you complex biological variability). This means that many biologists harbor a bit of a superstitious streak…For me I find that wearing this t-shirt always seems to bring me luck in the lab. So, if you’re having a run of bad luck, this may just be the outfit choice for you.
5: Brain specimen coasters.
OK so I don’t currently own these, but I very much would like to – hint hint ;). I have spent many long days painstakingly mounting sections of brain tissue onto glass microscope slides with a paintbrush (no I’m not kidding this is actually how we do this) and the results always amaze me. Looking at the intricate structure of these brain slices is absolutely inspirational and I’ve often wished I could take my slides home. Sadly, knowing the cocktail of chemicals used to mount and fix these samples, I’ve always decided it was too risky to remove them from the lab. But, these coasters may be the perfect solution to this problem – put some serious thought into your morning cuppa and rest it on a slice of brain!
Post by: Sarah Fox