“Here is my archaeopteryx, the ‘missing link’ between birds and reptiles. It comes in handy as a visual tool during debates with creationists that like to visit campus sometimes! Yes, I know structural pigments probably had not evolved by this time…” –Jeremy Batten
Archive for February, 2008
Archaeopteryx
Super Alloy
“I got mine in grad school (PhD materials science and applied physics, 2004 Cal). The tatoo is a convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) image of 6-4 Ti alloy (hexagonal, or beta phase) one of the first ‘super alloys’. Being light-weight, high-strength, and corrosion resistant, I felt it was appropriate to put on my back, to keep it strong.”–Abraham
His and Her Science Tattoos
“The atom is on the left shoulder of Raychelle Burks, chemistry PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She got the tattoo upon turning 18 and deciding to pursue a career in science. She got the tattoo in her hometown of Pomona, CA at The Body Shop. The Chinese characters tattoo says “Scientist” and is on the left ankle of Matthew Shortridge, chemistry PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He got the tattoo upon turning 18 and deciding to pursue a career in science. He got the tattoo in his hometown of Lincoln, NE at Aavardaxx’s Tattoo. They met years later at UNL, started dating in the Fall of 2006, and soon learned they both had science tattoos. Two nerds meant to be together.”–Raychelle Burks
Serotonin
Here is a picture of my serotonin tattoo. I don’t know that it needs much more explanation than it’s my favorite neurotransmitter.–Hayley
Fourier Transform
“I got this tattoo, which encircles my left wrist, in 2000. The tat is described by this function(1/n)*sin(nx)
with n from 1 to 6. I had done a lot of work with fourier transforms on the research project I was involved in as an undergrad physics student, and just find the entire concept very beautiful. At the time that I got the tat, I was a master’s student in materials science and was taking a class on fourier optics. As music also plays a very large role in my life, the image/concept has a double meaning for me. As an added ‘feature’, the artist made a small mistake on the inside of my wrist (the n=4 line disappears for a bit). This really bugged me at first until I decided it was a good metaphor for how the messy reality of life is never perfectly represented by our mathematical theories.”
–Andrea Grant (now a climatology PhD student in Switzerland, where nerdy tattoos are still pretty shocking….)
Vita Brevis…
“Here’s my tattoo of a Latin Hippocrates quote. Translated it says “life is short, art is long”.–Katie
Control-Alt-Delete
“Let’s not forget the computer scientists! I have a ying yang on one shoulder to remind me to keep a balance in all things in life. I have this on the other shoulder to remind me that sometimes things get fubar and you need to reboot.” –Chaim
Carbon
“I am a biochemist, studying to be a molecular biologist, and the tattoo I am sending is the entry for carbon on the periodic table of elements. Since all living things on this planet at least are carbon based, from a chemical standpoint, it doesn’t get much more basic than carbon. Hence the tattoo.” –Erin
Water Bear (Tardigrade)
“I just have to say I love that you’re compiling all these science tattoos. Ever since I got mine I was wondering what other science tats were out there.
So, in undergrad I did independent research on the aquatic ecology of tardigrades in the Great Smoky Mountains. I discovered three new species to science and this is tattoo is to represent how much I enjoyed that research. Also, I think tardigrades are one of the coolest organisms on earth – they’re practically indestructible! Thanks again for getting all of these together.”–Kristal
Stargazer
“Some history: My name is Skye, and I am a Chemist by trade, but in my spare time I am an stargazer and amateur astronomer.”
The Julia Set
“It is an approximation of the locus of connectedness for the Julia sets of the family of functions f(z) = z^2 + lambda/(z^2) (rotated by pi/2). This is analogous to the standard Mandelbrot set (which applies to the family f(z) = z^2 + c), but holds additional fascination because for lambda values which are in the interior of one of the subdomains of the connectedness locus, the Julia set is a Universal Curve. To me this represents the structure unifying chaos (since Julia sets are chaotic) and order (since Universal Curves act as a sort of catalog of all planar curves).” –Aaron
Antique Microscope
“It’s great to see that there are other uber-nerds out there! I am a microbiologist so my obvious choice was a microscope. This one is an antique from 1893, and it is along the left side of my spine.” –Jillian
