Editing 2239: Data Error
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | [[Megan]] | + | {{incomplete|Created by some <s>anomolous</s> ''perfectly normal'' algae. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | [[Megan]] claims that an data error invalidates her research. [[Black Hat]] suggests two options: redo her research and share the previous analysis, trying to extract some value out of it, or, as our classic [[classhole]], says she should destroy the evidence, build a superweapon and dominate the world. She seems excited about this idea, and proclaims that people should fear her algae, which would probably be her superweapon, then she remembers that the algae she was studying was a normal algae, since her first research was incorrect because of the data error, thus it is a normal algae. | ||
− | + | Mouse-over text is about the {{w|Great Oxidation Event}} when prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms built up oxygen in Earth atmosphere for the first time and most organisms, which weren't adapted to oxygen, went extinct. That suggests that algae may be somehow dangerous - although {{w|Cyanobacteria}} are no longer considered {{w|algae}}. | |
− | + | Research papers require actual research<!-- Citation Needed needed -->, and sometimes when answering the planned question the resulting answer is not what might have been expected and may even make the question look misplaced and the paper superfluous or uninformative (at least in the opinion of the researcher at the time). | |
− | + | There is thus a bias<!-- dig up appropriate link to the effect? --> to papers in that null or negative results tend to be left unpublished/unpublicised while any result that strongly supports the original idea or concept being sought gets revealed to the world with far less concern about systematic errors or innacuracies. | |
− | + | In this comic, Megan finds herself with the dilemma of havingconducted research and reached a conclusion incompatible with the purpose behind that research. Black Hat suggests that as well as "publish and be damned" in documenting the counterintuitive and unconstructive actual result, after double-checking the anomoly, there's always the option to keep quiet. But, being Black Hat, this does not just mean leaving the 'bad' result fall below the radar but also somehow using this secret information for some form or other of World Domination. | |
− | + | Megan then reveals that the problematic target of study is not something of a traditional method of Evil Overlordship (lasers, control of energies, mind control, etc) but involves presumably small samples of algae not behaving as expected. | |
− | + | The title-text does go on to record, however, that in the early stages of life on this planet there ''were'' huge environmental changes wrought by such humble (but numerous) organisms, leading to the conclusion that 'perhaps' this weaponised weirdness could do so again. Which is either overstating their capabilities or close to an actual worst-case scenario closely related to that of a Gray Goo scenario from the field of nanotechnology but in a more biological form. | |
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | + | :[Black Hat and Megan stand facing each other.] | |
− | :[ | ||
:Megan: I can't believe this data error invalidates a year and a half of my research. | :Megan: I can't believe this data error invalidates a year and a half of my research. | ||
:Megan: I was about to publish. | :Megan: I was about to publish. | ||
− | |||
:Black Hat: Don't panic. You have two options. | :Black Hat: Don't panic. You have two options. | ||
:Megan: Yeah? | :Megan: Yeah? | ||
− | :[Closeup shot of Black Hat holding one hand | + | :[Closeup shot of Black Hat holding one hand up. |
:Black Hat: 1) Redo your analysis and share whatever results you can, whether positive or negative. It's disappointing, but these things happen. | :Black Hat: 1) Redo your analysis and share whatever results you can, whether positive or negative. It's disappointing, but these things happen. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Black Hat has closed his fist. Megan holds her hands up.] |
:Black Hat: 2) Destroy the evidence. Use your materials and research methods to build a superweapon. Conquer Earth and rule with an iron fist. | :Black Hat: 2) Destroy the evidence. Use your materials and research methods to build a superweapon. Conquer Earth and rule with an iron fist. | ||
:Megan: '''''Tremble before my anomalously productive algae!''''' | :Megan: '''''Tremble before my anomalously productive algae!''''' | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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