February 26, 2010

My co-worker Heather and I entered the National Science Foundation's "International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge" last fall. We were informed in November that we were finalists, but, sadly, did not end up winning. However, I want to share a link to the website that showcases the winners (we entered the Photography challenge), because I think it really demonstrates how beautiful science can be.

http://www.sciencemag.org/special/vis2009/show/

Some of the photographs would appear quite mundane in real life. It took the creative minds of researchers to take the usual and make it beautiful, meaningful and accessible.

Below is the image we submitted and it's would be caption. It's called "Icy Slopes". I admit, it's not as beautiful as the winners, but I liked it.

The image was obtained using a scanning tunneling microscope. The unique capabilities of this instrument allowed for molecular resolution of dibutylselenide (DBSe) molecules adsorbed on a Au (111) surface. The herringbone reconstruction of the Au (111) surface acts as a template for patterning the DBSe. DBSe preferentially adsorbs in the wider region of the herringbone as evidenced by the dense packing of molecules in those areas of the surface.

The DBSe molecules look like individual snow-capped peaks leading off into the distance. Each of these "molecular mountains" is in reality less than one trillionth the size of Mt. Everest. These molecules align along their central selenium atoms with their alkyl tails parallel to one another. The molecules will line up either along or against the herringbone directions, depending on how much space is available, to maximize the number of molecules that can fit within a given area. Self-assembly allows the individual DBSe molecules to be the building blocks for patterning areas on much larger size scales.

February 24, 2010

Yes I am blogging from work, so what?

One year ago today (a.k.a. February 24, 2009) I went on a first date with a dashing gentleman. We hit it off, and tonight we will celebrate our anniversary. We will revisit the site of our first date, where we haven't been since our one month celebration last March. I am looking forward to some delicious sushi at Harvard Square's Takemura. If we still have room after dinner we plan on getting dessert at Finale just around the corner.

On another note it's been raining here for ~24 hours, and all weather reports indicate that it will continue to rain until Saturday. That's, like, a billion days of rain! That's too much rain, if you ask me.

February 22, 2010

Well, it's been almost a year since I posted anything. It's hard for me to stay in the habit of writing, but I hope no one has been too disappointed.

This past weekend we (Steve and I) went to a "Breakfast for Dinner" party at my friend Jenny's place. Jenny and I met a couple of years ago through a mutual friend, and we've stayed in contact on and off since then. We don't see each other often, but we follow each other on Twitter, and that's almost like having a conversation. Break-ner was delicious (please to be telling me where to find that waffle mix!) and we met some good people. Didn't get any contact info, but good people nonetheless.

On Sunday I hosted a Mark. party. My friend Cristy is a Mark. cosmetics representative (it's an Avon brand...cheaper than Avon products), and I volunteered to be a hostess. The perks of hosting include (1) discount for hosting, (2) discount for every dollar spent and (3) not having to leave my home. She demonstrated a "dramatic/evening look" on me; everyone said it was hot, but I thought it was...let's say "dramatic" (to use her words). Nevertheless, I bought some products and a package of makeup removing wipes. I look forward to what other looks I can come up with on my own.

ttyl!

march 18, 2009

being a graduate student isn't as glamorous as it sounds. i am sure some of you imagine me sitting at my desk or in the lab coming up with and carrying out amazing experiments that will change the world as we know it.

not the case. today is a prime example:

for the past few days i have noticed that our rotary pump smelled funky and was leaking a bit. i decided to change the oil and investigate the leak. i spent the last two hours dealing with the stinkiest pump oil ever created. think of rotten eggs mixed with the stench of death. it was gross. i still have no idea where the leak is coming from, but the pump and it's oil are now clean and back in use.

march 11, 2009

remember back in september when i wrote about that dude i met at a party? the one with the conveniently not mentioned girlfriend? we've seen each other a few times since then at other parties. i've even met his girlfriend (she's annoying). each time, we have a very similar interaction in which he flirts a little and buys me a beer or something, and i go home annoyed.

i went bowling with the prospective students at last weekend's open house. i was putting away my stuff when i heard someone say "hey april!" it was the dude. he was bowling with a couple of people in the lane next to ours. we chatted a bit while we were bowling, but for the most part kept to our respective groups. i am happy to say that i didn't get the least bit annoyed. i must have moved on...what's that about?

march 9, 2009

it's snowing this morning, after a beautiful weekend of 60 degree weather. i don't think i'll get used to this manic climate.

i had a fantastic weekend. our department had an open house for prospective graduate students, and i got to meet a lot of new people and eat a lot of free food on saturday.

speaking of new people, i had a date on sunday. this was our fourth. i'm terribly smitten, and he brought flowers, to boot!

march 3, 2009

I love this song.

Many Shades of Black by The Racontuers

Go ahead, go ahead,
And smash it on the floor
Take whatever's left
And take it with you out the door...

See if I cry,
see if I shed a single sorry tear
I can't say that it's been that great
No, in fact it's been a wasted-free year

Everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

Take it as it comes
and be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and there's many shades of black
There's so many shades of black
There's so many shades of black

Let it out (let it all out) let it all out
Say what's on your mind
You can kick and scream
and shout and say things
That are so unkind.

Yeah,
See if I care
And see if I stand firm or if I fall
Cause in the back of my mind,
and on the tip of my tongue
is the answer to it all...

And everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

Take it as it comes
and be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and there's many shades of black,
There's so many shades of black,
Yeah, there's many shades of black

Yeah...
Everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

So take it as it comes
and be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and you cannot take it back
no you cannot take it back
there's so many shades of black,
There's so many shades of black,
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black