Out Of Left Field Cafe
Muse Science Magazine for Kids|September 2017

HOW DO SCIENTISTS PASS THE TIME AT FAR-FLUNG RESEARCH SITES?

Mary Alexandra Agner
Out Of Left Field Cafe

A volcanologist, a marine biologist, and an ornithologist walk into your corner café. From where you sit—the comfy couch, of course—you can almost hear their drink orders. You wonder if they’re tea people or coffee hounds. When they meet up with some friends and take the table behind you, you can easily hear them discussing their fieldwork: on site at Mount St. Helens, at the shrinking Great Salt Lake, or in Lower Athabasca, Alberta. Then one of them mentions sometimes being a bit bored. The others chime in. You’re curious: what do scientists do during their downtime in the field?

Snail Numbering

Kay Behrensmeyer, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Smithsonian, mentions one trip to Pakistan where it rained nearly an entire week. Now that could be dull! However, she and her colleague used the time to write an entire scientific paper—on an early laptop, using electricity from a generator—describing their new method for documenting fossils.

Anna Armitage takes a different view regarding downtime. “Think! Eat! Explore!” she exclaims. Armitage, a marine ecologist, studies the effects humans have on coastal habitats, places like tidal mud ats, sea grass beds, and salt marshes. As for being bored, she says, “Sometimes, that [word] means you feel like there is nothing to do. Fieldwork is rarely like that—it is usually very busy! But, it can be tedious. Repeating measurements over and over can feel boring.”

You angle yourself toward the scientists’ table, curious to know more about what a marine ecologist does. Armitage continues, “I did an experiment once where I glued tiny numbered tags to the backs of hundreds of snails, and then measured their lengths each week to see how they grew in restored marshes. at was tedious, but busy!”

Rock Watching

This story is from the September 2017 edition of Muse Science Magazine for Kids.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of Muse Science Magazine for Kids.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MUSE SCIENCE MAGAZINE FOR KIDSView All
A Mars Rock Found With Leopard Spots Could Be a Sign of Ancient Life
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

A Mars Rock Found With Leopard Spots Could Be a Sign of Ancient Life

IN JULY, NASA'S PERSEVERANCE ROVER CAME ACROSS A SPOTTED ROCK IN WHAT WAS ONCE A RIVERBED IN THE JEZERO CRATER ON MARS.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
Para Athlete Uses Exoskeleton Suit to Carry the Olympic Torch
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Para Athlete Uses Exoskeleton Suit to Carry the Olympic Torch

In July, a 36-year-old French tennis para athlete, Kevin Piette, got a chance to participate in this summer’s Olympic torch relay without using a wheelchair.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
Ancient Egyptians May Have Used a Water System to Lift Stones to Build Pyramid
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Ancient Egyptians May Have Used a Water System to Lift Stones to Build Pyramid

HOW ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BUILT THE MASSIVE PYRAMIDS IN EGYPT MORE THAN 4,000 YEARS AGO HAS LONG BEEN A TOPIC OF WONDER AND DEBATE.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
Seals Can Make Big Dives Thanks to Their Big Hearts
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Seals Can Make Big Dives Thanks to Their Big Hearts

SEALS AND SEA LIONS, WHICH ARE SEMI-AQUATIC MAMMALS, CAN HOLD THEIR BREATHS UNDERWATER FOR ESPECIALLY LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
THE BIG-CITY LIFE OF STEVEN J.BIKE SHOP RABBIT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

THE BIG-CITY LIFE OF STEVEN J.BIKE SHOP RABBIT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Bicycle Roots is a full-service bike shop. It's in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Joe Lawler is the co-owner and service manager. Perhaps more important, he's \"dad\" to the shop's most popular employee. That's Steven J. Lawler.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
Wild Ones
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Wild Ones

WHAT FACTORS DRIVE PEOPLE TO BUY MONKEYS, TIGERS, AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS?

time-read
3 mins  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
HOW TO CONQUER THE WORLD
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

HOW TO CONQUER THE WORLD

A brief history

time-read
4 mins  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
What would happen if meteors hit Earth?
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

What would happen if meteors hit Earth?

You may have seen Ameteors fly into Earth's atmosphere, in the form of shooting stars.

time-read
2 mins  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
WORKING WORMS
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

WORKING WORMS

DON'T JUST THROW THOSE TABLE SCRAPS AWAY! LET A BOX OF WORMS TURN THEM INTO SOMETHING USEFUL.

time-read
5 mins  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind
Dog Rescue Saves Lives
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Dog Rescue Saves Lives

THE ARGUMENT FOR ADOPTING A NO-KILL GOAL

time-read
4 mins  |
Muse November-December 2024: Pets on the Mind