錢錢錢。

另一個有趣的研究。

金錢能否帶來快樂？根據一個中美合作的心理學研究指出，單純的數鈔票能夠減輕受其他人排擠時所帶來的壓力。甚至能夠減輕肉體上的苦楚。

參加這項研究的學生首先隨機分成兩組；A組在數完鈔票後將手浸泡在熱水中，B組在浸泡熱水前則只是數白紙。結果是A組比B組更能抵抗熱水所帶來的疼痛。

另一個測試是利用一個不合作的電腦遊戲來引起被拋棄疏離的感覺。同樣的A組比B組更能抵受被疏離引致的不安。

是否所有關於金錢的都能減少痛楚？研究人員將學生重新分為兩組：C組將最近的支出寫下來，而D組只是寫下當天的天氣; 然後再做上述兩項測試。有趣的是，D組比C組更能抵受精神及心理上的壓力。

研究人員認為，心理上的痛苦，很可能是由比較原始的生理上的痛苦進化（evolve)而來。因為兩者有極相似的系統。

Ref:Zhou et al. Pyschological Science 2009

***

看完之後，我的反應是，在銀行櫃台數鈔票的豈不是變超人？數自己的錢和數別人的有何不同？寫下交租交水電的支出，和寫下買衫買名錶的消費，又會否不同？

舞動奇跡。

又一個有趣的科學研究。

稱得上為萬物之靈的人類，當然比其他生物有特別之處；例如節奏感。一般認為只有人類才可以隨着拍子起舞或演奏音樂。最近在Current Biology有兩篇報告，打破了這個理論：原來鸚鵡也有節奏感的。

在影片中，這叫作snowball的鳳頭鸚鵡能夠跟隨歌曲的快慢而調整「舞步」。（歌曲是backstreet boys的everybody...相信是主人的至愛吧）。雖然snowball有時會停下來或走了拍子，但大部分時間是非常準確。

第二篇則利用了youtube，將所有有關動物和跳舞的影片集中起來，再研究片中動物是否真的能跟隨拍子。結果是只有鸚鵡科的（例外是一隻大象）才會。其他的大熱門例如狗及靈長類例如黑猩猩竟然不能。當然用youtube來收集資料會有不足，但也可能是因為只有能摹擬聲音的動物才能夠有節奏感。最重要的是，這些動物能夠用來研究節奏感是如何進化而來，以及腦神經怎樣控制節奏感。
Ref:
Patel et al. Current Biology 19, 827-30 (2009)
Schachner et al. Current Biology 19, 831-36 (2009)
Fitch Current Biology 19, R403 (2009)

人之初。

Photo: H Jensen/University of Tubingen (NJ Conrad Nature 2009 doi:10.1038/nature07995)

一則有趣的考古研究。

在德國南部一個洞穴內，考古學者發現了一個六厘米長的古老雕像。雖然細小，但意義重大。發現這雕像的考古學者在「自然」（Nature)科學期刊內撰文指出，這個有三萬五千年歷史的長毛象牙雕像，是最早期智人（Homo sapien)剛剛抵達歐洲時所製; 也正是尼安德特人（Neanderthals)消失之時。是訖今為止最古老的女性雕像。

除了歷史悠久，這雕像的一大特色就是一眼就能看出女性的性徵：誇張的雙乳，豐碩的臀部，及陰部的大特寫。其他不那麼重要的部分，例如頭，及手腳，就明顯的縮小。據估計，那細小如豆的頭，是用來繫於繩上的。另外一個奇特之處就是在腹部和手臂刻滿了意義不明的符號。可能是古代巫術的儀式，也可能是衣服的摺痕。這是符號／文字／抽象思維之始。

三萬五千年前的男子日思夜想的，和現代人並無二致。

少數族裔在實驗室。

很久也沒有更新這處。忽然之間想起了，一個比較敏感的話題，就是實驗室各色人種相處之道。以我以前讀博士的實驗室來說，因為除了小弟之外，全是當地白人（全是根正苗紅的加拿大人。連美國人英國人都沒有），所以大家相處時，是比其他聯合國般的實驗室來得簡單。這當然是極端；多數其他的實驗室，是來自五湖四海之能人異士。由於實驗室地方淺窄，加上習俗言語不同，衝突便隨之而來。

有一些美加的實驗室，也很有趣，是全由外國人當博士後，尤其是來自中國或中東的。教授通常都是來自中國或中東，但也不一定，也有當地白人的。或者有人會認為這很好啊，他們也會欣賞少數族裔的才能。但是我可以很老實的說，這些通常代表那教授是很會剝削壓搾。因為他們知道，這些歷經千辛萬苦拿到工作簽證的外國少數族裔，是不會對任何不公平而發聲的。如果教授也屬同一族裔便尤甚。這些博士後會有一種異常的感恩心態，認為能來到外國已屬萬幸。"少許"苦頭是沒所謂的。也因為人生地不熟的關係，在當地沒朋友沒娛樂，當然便日以繼夜的守在實驗室.....

因為我的舊老闆是整個學系的vice dean，所以這類個案我是時有所聞。舊老闆甚至很疑惑的問我，為何也是來自中國（正確來說是香港）的教授，會特別壓搾中國來的博士後（走法律罅削薪資）。她說：I would expect him to give them special treatment。我只有苦笑回道：well, it is surely special indeed。

Applying for postdocs: does size matter?

And of course it does! Not because I am a guy (haha), but the size of a lab is one of the major factors determining the atmosphere of lab. While bigger (and usually more famous) labs usually indicate good funding in general, it does not guarantee that you are swimming in money and have unlimited resources. In a lab that has 20+ postdocs, very often one project is done by more than three or four people. Hence the resources are divided and you may have to fight for it. Even worse, when it comes to publications, you may have to share co-authorship among two or even three people, and there may be a bitter fight of who comes first in the list. In a way, you are not only competing against other labs who are working on your subject, but also the people in your own environment! Also, your supervisor will not have time at all for guidance, you are pretty much on your own. Imagine the lab meeting schedule in a 20+ postdoc lab! You won't have one for every six months probably!

It basically all boils down to what type of person you are in a working environment. If you are a natural "fighter", then a bigger lab will be good for you. If not, and you need more help from your supervisor, perhaps a smaller lab with 3 or 4 postdocs (plus some students) will suit you the most.

A good link for postdoc interview questions

Here is the link from Nature magazine

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2008/080515/full/nj7193-424b.html

Interviewing for postdoc position (2)

So here are some of the questions that I think are important and often missed (special thanks to my colleague Kelly who gave me lots of advice):

1. (To the PI) Will I be able to work on what I have been doing in your lab when I start my new lab? Need to ask this because some PIs are not as generous as you have thought, esp. for the new ones because they are usually more insecure. That's why working for a really big/famous lab could be great in this sense, because usually the PI doesn't really care if you take away some of his/her stuff.

2. (To the people working in the lab) What kind of adjectives would you describe your PI/lab environment? Would you say collegial, competitive, supportive, fun, serious, generous, ... ? The trick is to give them some adjectives to choose, and throw in some negative ones among the good ones, so they won't feel alarmed when they give you the bad ones. If you don't give them any words, more likely they won't say much, or will give you the standard empty phrases like "it is okay, it is good..etc"

3. (To the PI) Will I get maternity/paternity leave? Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone (not me for sure!) but believe it or not in this age there are still assholes out there who is totally against female scientists who want to have a family/babies!

4. (To the PI) Do you support people going to conferences? For this, it is not just about monetary support (chances are you will have your own travel allowance), but also whether he/she will let you take some time off to go to a conference. I know some PIs are not really keen on sending the trainees out to a conference, but would rather go him or herself!