Scientists are a typically a boring lot what with their drab lab coats and fascination with numbers. Sure, the mad ones are ok, troublemakers, but entertaining at the very least. I’m certain many of you are thinking “hey, I know lots of scientists who know how to rock the discotheques,” but you have either misjudged your scientist friends or my ability to stereotype various professions.
I will say, in defense of your hypothetical friends, scientists do occasionally manage to do something completely awesome with the English language (never mind curing diseases and blowing things up). Case in point: The Price of Anarchy.
Excellent name of a band, even better name for a variable. Specifically, the ratio between Nash equilibrium and optimal travel time. I have no idea what that means either, but the important thing to remember is that apparently there are scientists who devote their lives to traffic flow. Most of us have all the data we need already based on a lifetime of experience, all we’ve been lacking were the formulas and dexterity with the written word to truly earn that white lab coat and pocket protector. This article in the Christian Science Monitor explains a bit more about the price of anarchy (bonus points for incorporating the outstanding phrase “vehicular anarchy”) and the theory that closing roads can actually reduce traffic. To which I say, sure, why not.
Tags: awesome writing, cool, genius, Inspiration