#TBT: World Laboratory Day
As part of our “Throwback Thursday” blog series, we’re taking a look at a topic that’s currently in the news and tagging it with previous research, videos or commentaries in a relevant way. As the saying goes, “what’s old is new again” – and we hope you enjoy our wonky twist on #TBT.
Today—April 23—is World Laboratory Day, recognizing the important discoveries that resulted from the hard work and persistence of scientists and researchers. Consider just a few of the important scientific developments that began in a laboratory:
- Alexander Fleming was researching the flu when he found that mold had grown in one of his petri dishes, and saw that the mold was attacking and killing the bacteria. He realized that certain organisms could be killed by the mold, and the discovery led to the creation of penicillin.
- Jonas Salk began conducting research on polio in 1947, and by 1951, Salk had determined that there were three distinct types of polio viruses. He was able to develop a "killed virus" vaccine for the disease, which used polio viruses that were grown in a laboratory and then destroyed.
- James Watson and Francis Crick made history in 1953 when they discovered the double helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which gave rise to modern molecular biology.
In recognition of the important work that occurs in laboratories—and since it’s Throwback Thursday—we asked staff at the National Pharmaceutical Council to share their memories of past experiments or lab experiences.
Dan Leonard, president: “One of my most memorable ‘lab experiments’ goes back to a science fair in 8th grade when I built a solar “cooker” out of reflective materials (aluminum foil). The goal was to be able to fry an egg from the reflected rays of the sun onto a pan secured in the center of my high-tech parabola. The science involved was actually more about geometry since I had to ensure that the shapes or angles of the parabola were perfect to concentrate the reflective light to a precise point on the pan. With the help of my favorite teacher, Mr. Devantery, I was able to design and build the perfect parabolic mirror. I took my winning design and a dozen eggs to the science fair in Manchester, NH, confident that the judges would be dining on delightful steaming hot omelets. One thing I did not account for in my design was the angle of the sun in early April and the presence of pesky intermittent clouds (still a problem with 100% reliability of solar energy to this day). Fortunately, the jury wasn’t counting on my omelets for lunch, but I was able to show a moderate temperature increase on a thermometer located in the epicenter of the parabola. Still, on a cool spring day in New Hampshire that’s barely enough to warm a slice of toast, never mind frying an egg.”
Jennifer Graff, vice president, comparative effectiveness research: “Our latest Science Sunday at our house with a five-year-old was testing which types of Easter candy are most likely to float (e.g., Peeps), and which are likely to sink. Unfortunately, we had lots of missing data because much of the chocolate and jelly beans were already devoured!
Also, safety first! You can never be too safe when working on home science experiments. This was a picture of our prep work for elephant toothpaste (hydrogen peroxide, yeast, water, dish soap and food coloring). Oozing bubbles and mess…. perfect for a five-year-old!”
Kimberly Westrich, vice president, health services research: “My first science project was entitled, ‘How long does it take the average popcorn kernel to pop?’ My dad helped me spend hours popping popcorn in a pan with hot oil and measuring popping time with a stopwatch. I won prizes at both the school and regional level and was incredibly proud of my project. And, no, I don’t remember how long it takes. I think it was somewhere between 60 and 90 seconds.”
Andrea Hofelich, vice president, communications: “I’ll never forget my first visit to the chemical lab of a brand pharmaceutical company. There were beakers with bubbling substances; autoclaves humming in the background; all sorts of complex tubing connecting solutions to specially shaped glass containers; and a strong, yet not unbearable odor. My dad was a chemist, responsible for increasing the purity and production yields for many important medications, and he was proud to show his then-eight-year-old daughter where he worked and how he brought the chemical equations he wrote on paper into real life in the lab. His work—and the lab—made a lasting impression on me.”
Kathryn Gleason, vice president, membership and operations: “I can’t remember the last time I visited a laboratory. I did take chemistry in high school and college, and can still translate most, if not all, of the periodic table (which came in handy recently translating a personalized license plate [AUN YRS]). Also, I have no trouble with an oft used crossword puzzle clue (a gelatinous substance used in bio-culture media = agar). Unfortunately, that’s the extent of it. Happy World Laboratory Day!”
Melissa Baulkwill, director, administration: “I’m not now, nor ever really was very ‘sciencey’ (is that a word?). My only memory is of my fifth grade teacher who use to eat the eggs (raw or cooked) that kids used in their science experiments! Yuck.”
Alex Moorhead, communications associate: “I was in elementary school working with my mom on my science fair project about invisible ink with lemon juice. I wasn’t aware that the invisible ink would eventually become visible once held next to a lightbulb… That is until my mom lifted a piece of paper up to the light only to decipher the four-letter curse word that I had secretly, deviously written (or so I thought, at least). The lesson I really learned was I’m not as sneaky as I thought, and always read directions to the end.”
Sue Grimes, executive assistant: “When my son, Jay, was in 8th grade he conducted a science project about seed germination and documented the growth pattern of a plant for 30 days. He followed all the necessary steps and picked a spot that provided a lot of direct sunlight for the plant to grow. In this case, too much sunlight! The seed sprouted and a tiny plant began to grow, but much to Jay’s dismay, the plant died within a week or two. He had done everything correctly so it seemed, but he did not factor in the impact of the hot rays of the sun. I was sure he was going to get a poor grade on his paper because the plant died, and I even suggested we buy a new plant! But Jay decided to follow the assignment by documenting the growth and ultimate demise of the plant – just like any great scientist would do! He completed the paper and gave it to his teacher along with the dried up plant. His teacher was impressed with Jay’s approach and all the data he collected. Much to my surprise, Jay received an excellent grade. The moral of this story: ‘No losers here: all data is good data!’”
Maria Pacheco, executive assistant: “The first thought that came to mind regarding lab experiments was from my high school biology class when I had to dissect a frog – and a pig – during a lab. It was the most difficult assignment I had to fulfill in my all-girl high school, and the memory is still so vivid. I remember standing there in my uniform, my teacher Mrs. Walsh’s reaction, the smell and how some of my friends thrived with the assignment. Not me though, I love animals, but somehow I survived that class and still loved Mrs. Walsh.”