In lab meeting this morning, I had another of those moments that remind me I’m not in physics anymore.

We apparently have a fairly new -80°C freezer in BL3 (Biosafety Level 3, for those with benign organisms). It doesn’t take the same rack size as the previous one. The old racks are too deep for it. My lab groaned about how many thousands of dollars it would cost to get new, properly sized racks.

I say, “Why don’t we just take a hacksaw to them? Or I know the high energy physics machine shop has a metal bandsaw.� You would have thought I had grown a second head.

It was almost as bad as when I recommended condoms to maintain a partial seal on flasks in the autoclave. They’re the sturdiest membrane for your money, and I’m sure some of the tougher materials will happily survive autoclaving even if straight latex won’t.

madhadron :: Jul.24.2006 :: McKinney lab, biology :: Comments Off