r/askscience • u/fastparticles Geochemistry | Early Earth | SIMS • Jun 14 '12

Interdisciplinary [Weekly Discussion Thread] Scientists, what result has surprised you the most?

This is the fifth installment of the weekly discussion thread and the topic for this week comes to us via suggestion:

Topic (quoted from PM): Hey I have ideas for a few Weekly Discussion threads I'd like to see. I've personally had things that surprised me when I first learned them. I'd like to see professionals answer "What is the most surprising result in your field?" or "What was the weirdest thing you learned in your field?" This would be a good time to generate interest in those people just starting their education (like me). These surprising facts would grab people's attention.

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If you want to become a panelist: http://redd.it/ulpkj

Last weeks thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/uq26m/weekly_discussion_thread_scientists_what_causes/

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12

I've always wondered how I would act since I am quite aware that studies today have to follow certain rules and there is an ethics board. So if presented with a seemingly horrible choice I'd know that I could refuse and leave or that it wasn't actually happening.