When I think about scientists and all the tools that they need to do science-y stuff, I picture something like this: a white room, full of expensive machines, knickknacks and chemicals with names I can never hope to pronounce. And I figure there’s some international science supply store with a catalogue that the scientists use to order more cool tech. As it turns out, I’m more wrong than I know. In fact, most scientists use Amazon.
Recently, a zoology PhD student was on Amazon looking for a tea infuser, and found a review posted by a scientist. She shared that review on Twitter, and it exploded, starting a hashtag called #reviewforscience where other scientists shared the most mundane stuff they’ve bought on Amazon, and how they use it to science the shit out of stuff.
I’m never gonna look at this stuff the same way.