Today's Highly Scientific Experiment

[ase]

Hypothesis #1: "space n" will always be cooler than just n.
Hypothesis #2: "n in space!" ditto, but can't be combined with #1.
Hypothesis #3: "n on a stick" will also work, but again, combinations are a bad idea.

Results: today's biochem note compression in re:histones: "space supercoiling", "supercoiling in space", "supercoiling on a stick!"

Discussion: if I have to explain why "supercoiling in space" isn't funny, you don't work with enough 3D models. If I have to explain why "supercoiling on a stick!" is funny, you haven't been to a RenFest lately.

Conclusions: Hypothesis #1 and #2 fail for specific case; previous research (norabombay, personal conversation) suggests that successful application is context-dependent. Hypothesis #3 wildly successful, but reinforces #1 and #2 conclusions. Directing further research toward context dependency (social vs. academic fields, subfield specificity, geographic variance, sleep deprivation, degree of inebriation) might refine subjective requirements for maximum efficacy of this and related addition humor (see classic work with fortune cookies and "in bed").

Citations:

ase. "February 28 biochem notes: supercoiling recap, DNA polymerase applications, bioinformatics." Biochemistry Notebook Spring 2006 1 (2006): 32-34.*

norabombay. IM interview series January and February 2006.**

*Obviously, my class notes are scholarly, but not rigorous or peer-reviewed. Just go with it.

**Really. Either need to get the heck out of this fandom or talk to more people in it.

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And now I have to go do actual studying. Not that I'm flipping about this week's biochem test at all.

Comments

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This is only going to end in me calling you at an inconvenient time.