Physics & Astronomy

The older I get, the more acutely aware I become of the fact that one’s greatest strength in life can often double as one’s greatest weakness. I feel much the same way about email. On any given day, it’s like a box of chocolates. Doubly if not triply so for the opening work days after a long holiday weekend.

Yesterday, the cyber gods not only were smiling, they also were downright giddy. As was I when I opened my first email of the day – an exchange between two Texas A&M University distinguished professors, forwarded my way by one of them at the rather ungodly hour of 12:30 a.m.

Mom always said nothing good happens after midnight, but in this case, she was wrong. Two lines in and even through sleepy eyes, I knew I’d hit upon one of those insta-classics that continue to validate my rationale in [...]