Such a historical milestone, here is the very first contest of Stripped Science! Would you like to win a special Darwin or Newton T-shirt? (The T-shirts are designed by me, so they are really unique. To this day, there is only one of them exists in the world.)The rules:
Just print one of Stripped Science strips, then take of picture of it sticked to somewhere. Place the strips to the wall in your lab, to your kitchen cupbouard, to the pipes of the LHC. Send the pictures to ‘viktor dot s dot poor at gmail dot com’ The best entries will be posted here. The two favourites will receive a Darwin or a Newton T-shirt. Other two T-shirts will be given away by drawing. (A picure from the International Space Station will be rewarded with both the T-shirts, however, in this case the winner pays the shipping costs.)
The deadline is 20th February.
(The regular comic strip is after the break)
Hmm, I’ve got milk cartons like that.
As for the competition, does this count?
Victor, every tube of restriction enzyme and nearly every extraction kit has an unwritten label just like that one!
Of course, Bob. If there won’t be more than 3 other competitors, you are among the definite winners!
Heather, I had a dispute with a sales representative over this. One of the miniprep kits just does not work, as the cause, he referred on an unwritten expiry date. (While the kit was bought about a year ago, opened in November, and the manual tells at least two years)
What a great idea for a competition, Viktor. Looking forward to seeing the entries!
Duly printed… now I need to a) think of a good idea and b) find my camera.
Viktor, I’ve honestly not had the unwritten expiry date be earlier than the written one! And if your company starts with Q, I’ve insisted and had a new kit sent for free, and they were grudgingly obliging in the end. Which is why I still sometimes buy from them. Don’t get R. Grant started, though.
And miniprep kits?! Sheesh… ;-)
Did someone say Q?
I win:
Yes, we use miniprep kits, but only on weekends and special occasions. (for transfecions usually) I always try to aviod the phenol/chloroform.
@Matt: Nice one. I guess, you made the pictures of the moon landing. But you are not old enough.
My entry is a set of two photos that I actually took.
The cartoon actually isn’t as clear as it could be; it’s this one.
Oh noes! Tail still there??!!
Dude, don’t do that to me. Also, please get a life.
My favourite for unwritten exp dates is Pierce Luminol for imaging western blots. Says it’s good for a year ar RT. Rubbish, Keep it at 4C or it’s dead in a few weeks. I’ve had some very unhappy scientists scrounging solutions late at night because their blots are invisible still.
Victor, I must have one of your Darwin/Che T-shirts!!
Cath, your cat is just great! My sister loves him/her.
Ian, the easiest way to get a T-shirt is to enter the competition.
We keep the Luminol at 4C, but earlier someone from the previous generation had pretty bad moments/days/weeks figuring out, what was wrong with the blots. It is told that it is possible to tweak it some additional H2O2.
Thanks, Viktor! She’s quite a character. Just for your sister, here she is again, in a rare display of affection with her sister. (They spend most of their time chasing each other, pushing each other off things, and ignoring each other, but they do cuddle sometimes).