The peculiar thing about many science nerds is that they refused to be labeled as a “science nerd.” There is something entirely vague about that label and using it to describe one’s entire person is atrocious. How do you know that someone is really a nerd? Specifically, how do you quantify a nerd? It is obviously impossible to make such measurements. And since anything that cannot be measured is not real knowledge, I launched a quest to be unselected into this fuzzy and formless category. I got involved in several activities that could not be associated with science nerds. One of them is mountain climbing.
Who would ever described mountain climbers as nerdy or even scientifically-literate? I’m pretty sure that carrying those huge mountaineering backpacks does not take more than a mere fraction of the brain cells. If I could just get through this five-day physical adventure, I’d have one activity in my belt that contradicts my reputation as a science nerd.
As I was walking along a narrow trail, keeping the center of gravity of the total weight of my mass and that of my backpack precisely a few centimeters in front of my chest, I happened to glance at another climber who appeared to be breathing too heavily. I could not resist my nerdy curiousity so I asked what’s wrong. He was shaking his head. He didn’t know what’s wrong but he found it very difficult to breathe right after drinking a bottle of water.
I sighed and said, “It’s called osmosis.”
The climber blinked and stared at me as if I said something in French. I was a little bit confused by his reaction. Osmosis is the simplest explanation of what happened. I explained to him that the water from his bottle does not have electrolytes. It will not be isotonic with that of his blood cells. He looked more confused. Then something else occured to me.
In a small voice, I asked him, “Do you know anything about osmotic pressure?” He slowly shook his head. I sighed again. I told him to forget what I said. I told him that I brought energy drink and I only take sips, even though I feel very thirsty.
Then I asked, “Do you know that a woman in California died because of she drank too much water?”
I saw a glimmer of comprehension in his eyes. He seemed interested in the tiny bit of information that I gave him. So I added another information. The doctors found her brain swollen due to drinking too much water. He narrowed his eyes in disbelief. “How could that happen?” his voice was incredulous.
I opened my mouth to explain again about how cells will swell when the blood becomes diluted with water. But I changed my mind. I shrugged and said, “I have no idea.” He nodded, glad that there is one ignorance that we share. He became my companion for the next several miles. He kept walking with me until the whole mountain climbing group reached a clearing. He pointed at our group leader who has an enviable physique.
“Do you think I have developed muscles that are as big as his?” my companion asked.
I was unpacking my food so I was absent-minded when I replied. “Muscles take time to develop. It is also difficult to differentiate lean muscle from fat. But if you must compare quickly, you could try calculating yours and his BMI or body mass index. If you have time and access to an X-ray absorptiometry, you could undergo bioimpedance analysis.” I heard peals of laughter from a girl friend.
I looked up and found my companion walking away from me. My girl friend cupped my face and whispered,”he was trying to flirt with you and you were giving him a dissertation about muscle mass.” I see.
