Lab Laughs & Lessons

Author

Professor LabTuna
May 27, 2025

Welcome to Lab Laughs & Lessons, where we share the funniest lab stories and practical tips to keep your work life thriving! This week, enjoy a tale of soup gone wild and discover exercises to stay pain-free in the lab.

In this issue:

Quote of the Day

❝

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

Albert Einstein

Lab Story of the Week

🍲 The Minestrone Mayhem

In a bustling university research lab, a small kitchenette served as a haven for hungry techs. Bill, a seasoned lab veteran with a knack for the unconventional, often blurred the lines between science and snacks.

One afternoon in 2023, feeling peckish, Bill eyed his can of chunky minestrone and the lab’s curing oven. “Why not?” he thought, setting it to 150°C for an hour. Colleagues glanced curiously but stayed silent, used to his antics.

When the timer beeped, Bill, nonchalantly using a rag as an oven mitt, pulled out the steaming can. The lab hushed as he yanked the ring-pull. Suddenly, the pressurized can erupted like a soup volcano, splattering minestrone across the ceiling. Chunks of vegetables and pasta rained down, creating a hilarious mess.

Laughter filled the lab as colleagues chanted, “F**kin’ Bill!” Bill, pale with realization, stared at the chaos. The ceiling stain became a permanent fixture, a tale told to new lab members: “That’s where Bill tried to make soup,” shared with amusement and warning.

Bill took the ribbing in stride, bringing homemade soups but never again using lab equipment for cooking. The kitchenette stood as a reminder: some experiments belong to scientists, not chefs.

☕ Share Your Funniest Lab Story & Win Starbucks!

Got a story like this? Share it with us!

Every week, we feature one submission — and the storyteller gets a Starbucks gift card.

Events Calendar

We’ve compiled all major science & lab-related events in a public Google Calendar.

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✅ Know a great event? Send it to us and help grow the community calendar.

Please, share interesting events to make this Community-based Calendar better.

🖥️ TOP-10 scientific YouTube channels to follow in 2025:

  1. Applied Science.
    Hosted by Ben Krasnow, this channel focuses on chemistry, electromechanical systems, and electronics, with 862K subscribers. It features practical experiments and DIY projects, making it ideal for lab workers interested in hands-on learning.

  2. Cody'sLab.
    With 2.2M subscribers, Cody Reeder's channel covers experimental science, including chemistry and physics. Known for unique and educational experiments, it provides insights into lab techniques, making it highly relevant for lab workers seeking inspiration and practical knowledge.

  3. The Backyard Scientist.
    Featuring 6.2M subscribers, Kevin's channel focuses on experimental science, chemistry, and physics, with visually appealing experiments.

  4. Joao's Lab.
    With 69.9K subscribers, Joao Costa's channel targets laboratory science, offering content on experiments and techniques.

  5. Science Talk with Jim Massa.
    With 2.5K subscribers, Jim Massa's channel discusses laboratory science, chemistry, and educational content.

  6. Step by Step Science.
    Hosted by Brian Swarthout, with 216K subscribers, this channel offers guides for chemistry and physics experiments.

  7. Ward's Science.
    With 3.9K subscribers, this channel focuses on laboratory science and educational tools.

  8. Tyler DeWitt.
    With 1.32M subscribers, Tyler DeWitt's channel explains chemistry for high school, college, AP, and IB levels.

  9. Periodic Videos.
    Hosted by Brady Haran and chemistry professors, with 1.58M subscribers, this channel explores chemical elements and their applications, often with lab demonstrations.

  10. Veritasium.
    With 15.3M subscribers, Derek Muller's channel covers general science, often including lab-based experiments and discussions. Its high subscriber count and focus on scientific principles.

🧘 Lab Exercises for Musculoskeletal Health

Repetitive tasks, such as pipetting, and long hours spent in static or awkward postures contribute to musculoskeletal problems. Work-related musculoskeletal problems related to laboratory training in university medical science students - PMC reports that 34.5% of medical science students experienced lab-related musculoskeletal issues over 12 months, with common sites including the lower back (27.3%), neck (23.6%), and upper back (20.0%). The study suggests contributing factors like non-adjustable stools (71.8%) and poor posture (38% self-reported), with solutions like better seating and rest periods proposed.

These exercises are designed to help you prevent musculoskeletal issues caused by repetitive tasks like pipetting and prolonged static postures. They are simple, require minimal space, and can be done during short breaks in a lab setting.

1. Chest Stretch

  • Purpose: Relieves tension in the chest and shoulders.

  • Instructions: Sit forward on a chair, extend arms wide with thumbs pointing up, pull shoulders back to stretch the chest. Hold for 20 seconds, repeat 3 times.

  • Benefits: Counteracts shoulder strain from repetitive lab tasks.

2. Chair Twist

  • Purpose: Stretches the back and neck.

  • Instructions: Sit forward, rotate upper body and head to the left, cross right arm to the armrest, hold for 20 seconds. Repeat 3 times per side.

  • Benefits: Reduces stiffness from prolonged sitting or standing.

3. Sit and Stretch

  • Purpose: Stretches hamstrings and lower back.

  • Instructions: Perch on chair’s edge, extend left leg straight, point foot up, lean forward slightly, hold for 20 seconds. Repeat 3 times per leg.

  • Benefits: Alleviates tightness from static postures.

4. Desk Pushups

  • Purpose: Strengthens triceps, chest, and shoulders.

  • Instructions: Lean against a sturdy lab bench, hands wider than shoulders, lower chest by bending elbows, push up. Do 10 repetitions.

  • Benefits: Supports arm movements used in lab tasks.

5. Triceps Dips

  • Purpose: Strengthens triceps and chest.

  • Instructions: Sit on chair’s edge, fingers facing away, heels on ground, lift off chair, lower by bending elbows to 90 degrees, push up. Do 10 repetitions.

  • Benefits: Enhances strength for repetitive motions like pipetting.

Notes

  • Perform these exercises during breaks to maximize benefits.

  • Ensure a safe lab environment (e.g., stable surfaces, no hazards).

  • Consult a healthcare professional for persistent pain or discomfort.