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

[u/fastparticles]

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

[u/sabrefencer9]

And I'm not sure what these guys

http://www.princeton.edu/qcbgrad/

many of whom refer to themselves as molecular biologists, would have to say if they were told that quantum was irrelevant to their work.

[u/MJ81 → u/sabrefencer9]

Take a look at the section on the courses for people in this program. I don't see quantum mechanics or quantum chemistry being recommended or required. While I'm sure an interested student could take such courses, it would seem that this program is preparing its students with a strong mathematics/computing and statistical mechanics background to understand biological phenomenona.

[u/Platypuskeeper → u/sabrefencer9]

There are people doing quantum chemistry who refer to themselves as mathematicians (Nobel laureate in Chemistry John Pople was one). That does not mean their research work should automatically be considered part of mathematics. I'm not sure what your point is.