Elizabeth tasked the Blog Staff with writing about “Aesthetic.” Erik chose to write about a science aesthetic and what you might find in his future lab.
The Lab Uniform
Laboratory uniforms may vary depending on what research is being conducted and/or what substances are being handled. But the basics (pre-COVID) are safety goggles, medical gloves, and a white lab coat. All aspects of the uniform are made to protect the wearer as much as possible in case of lab accidents. The safety goggles prevent harmful substances from entering the eyes. Medical gloves help prevent researchers from being contaminated by bacteria (this is especially true for doctors dealing with infected patients). The lab coat itself is made of cotton so it can absorb substances before they reach the skin.
The Centrifuge
Centrifuges are used to separate particles from a solution of a sample. Separation varies depending on the sample’s shape, density, size, viscosity, and the centrifuge’s rotor speed. According to labmanager.com, while the sample(s) spin, “gravitational force will cause particles of higher density than the solvent to sink, and those less dense than the solvent to float to the top.”
The Syringes
One of the more simple tools of lab aesthetics are syringes. The concept of a syringe is very simple; it is a tool that can either withdraw or inject fluid into a body or sample. Syringes are fitted with a plunger that can either withdraw (with upward movement) or inject fluids (with downward movement). Syringes are often single-use because the needles often contain a little bit of the sample they were used on. If a blood sample is infected, and the blood comes in contact with the needle, anyone who sticks that needle in their arm can be infected with numerous blood diseases such as AIDs and HIV.
The Beakers
Beakers come in many shapes and sizes and are used to hold and measure various substances. Individually, glass beakers are fairly cheap; you can find them in stores such as Walmart and JCPenny for low prices.
The Microscope
As I’m sure you probably know, microscopes are used to enlarge images of small objects. Standard microscopes are used to analyse organic structures, but the strongest microscopes can be used at the cellular or even molecular level.
The Petri Dish
Microbiologists are certainly familiar with the petri dish. Petri dishes are primarily used to grow and study cultures of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Being able to study these microorganisms allows scientists to better understand how they work and how these discoveries can help the world.
The Chemicals
The chemicals found in labs widely vary depending on the type of research being conducted. But, generally, chemicals are used to preserve samples and run tests.
The Test Subject(s)
Last but not least, every scientist’s favorite part of their career: experimenting on innocent creatures! Seriously though, when creating new medical drugs and therapy, scientists must test their work rigorously before their invention moves onto human trials. The best test subjects are ones that are in large abundance and able to reproduce quickly. The subjects must also be very similar to humans. Because of these qualities, mice often make the best test subjects. Mice share 97% of their DNA with humans, reach sexual maturity only two months after they’re born, and are capable of giving birth to as many as 80 offspring per year. Scientists are able to observe the long term effects of a treatment in a short amount of time, and thus make an accurate conclusion of what will happen to humans who take the treatment.
So, to fit in with your future lab, don your lab coat and grab your beakers.
Sources Referenced:
*www.macbicnj.com › purpose-of-a-beaker
*Google Images
*My mother who is a supervisor at Labcorp
*Dictionary.com
Aesthetic Editor: Elizabeth Shay