Editing 2239: Data Error

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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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[[Megan]] is frustrated that a data error invalidates her research, which she was just ready to publish. [[Black Hat]] tells her not to panic and states there are two options.
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{{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.}}
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[[Megan]] is frustrated that a data error invalidates her research, which was ready for publication. [[Black Hat]] suggests two options: redo her analysis and share the correct results, trying to extract some value from the research; 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 very aware it isn't a truly thoughtful idea), and proclaims that people should fear her algae, which would probably be her superweapon. She then feigns to remember her first research was incorrect because of the data error, knowing all along they are merely normal algae.
  
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Option one is to redo her analysis and share the correct results, even if negative. Negative results can be important, and although it would be disappointing, she would be trying to extract some value from the research.
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In fact, destroying the evidence, hiding the error and publishing the wrong results as if they were right is what a dishonest scientist would do in such a situation. This is what a lot of readers would expect such a dishonest character as Black Hat to suggest in panels two and three. However, the unexpected turn in mid of last panel changes leaves {{w|scientific misconduct}} to go to pure supervillain.  It appears [[Megan]] is being a wise-ass, knowing full well her algae won't threaten Earth, especially considering it turned out to be NORMAL algae.
  
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Option two fits the [[classhole]] expectation from Black Hat, as he suggests that she should destroy the evidence, use her research materials to build a superweapon, and use it to conquer the world and rule it with an iron fist.
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The title text refers to the {{w|Great Oxidation Event}}, when prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms built up oxygen in Earth's 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}}, which are colloquially referred to as "blue-green algae", are not considered to be true algae by many scientists, who restrict the term to eukaryotes.
  
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Obviously familiar with [[Black Hat]]'s ways, she moves right into being a smart-aleck. Her research is about the productivity of {{w|algae}} -- a topic not likely to lead to conquering the world. Humorously she states that at least she can make people tremble before her and her anomalously productive algae, and then goes on to state it was the data error that made her algae look productive. She jokingly corrects herself and states ''Tremble before my normal algae!'' She is, of course, having some fun with [[Black Hat]] and his generally destructive behavior.
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==Transcript==
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{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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Destroying the evidence, hiding the error and publishing the wrong results as if they were right is what a dishonest scientist would do in such a situation. This behavior is what would be expected by a malevolent character such as Black Hat... But the unexpected turn is that Black Hat passes over {{w|scientific misconduct}} to go directly to pure supervillainhood. He obviously has some other ideas about what a researcher uses her time on, as he did not expect Megan to be frustrated about algae.
 
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The title text refers to the {{w|Great Oxidation Event}}, when prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms built up oxygen in Earth's atmosphere for the first time and most organisms, which weren't adapted to oxygen, went extinct. It's extremely unlikely that algae could again be dangerous to all life on Earth, though Black Hat may wish they could be. (Note that {{w|cyanobacteria}}, which are colloquially referred to as "blue-green algae", are not considered to be true algae by many scientists, who restrict the term to {{w|eukaryotes}}.) On the other hand, algae and cyanobacteria {{w|Harmful algal bloom|can still be locally harmful}}.
 
  
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Megan's data error could have been any number of things.  Her data pipeline might have had a unit conversion error, or perhaps she mistyped the baseline productivity value that she was comparing her algae to, or perhaps her calculations used assumed or estimated values related to phenomena that were poorly understood at the time but have since been resolved in an unfavorable direction.
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:[Black Hat and Megan stand facing each other.]
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Whatever Megan's data error was, it seems harmless enough, but a similar data error spurred the development of nuclear weapons.  In 1940, Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls wrote a memo "{{w|Frisch–Peierls memorandum|On the construction of a 'superbomb' based on a nuclear chain reaction in uranium}}".  In this memo, Frisch and Peierls estimated that only 570 grams of uranium-235 would be required to construct a "superbomb" (what we now call a nuclear weapon), compared to many tons of natural uranium-238.  This inspired the British and American governments to begin developing infrastructure for uranium enrichment through the {{w|Tube Alloys}} and {{w|Manhattan Project}} programs.  Later experiments in these programs revealed that the values Frisch and Peierls had used for uranium's density and nuclear cross-section were overestimates (the true critical mass is actually around fifty kilograms), but by that time, the programs were far enough along that they could simply press on with enriching more material to eventually produce working weapons.
 
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==Transcript==
 
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:[Megan is talking to Black Hat.]
 
 
: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.
  
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:[In a frame-less panel Black Hat replies while holding two fingers up one on either hand.]
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[:Black Hat and Megan stand facing each other. Black Hat has his hands raised slightly]
 
:Black Hat: Don't panic. You have two options.
 
:Black Hat: Don't panic. You have two options.
 
:Megan: Yeah?
 
:Megan: Yeah?
  
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:[Closeup shot of Black Hat holding one hand out with the palm up.]
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:[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.
  
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:[Zoom out on Black Hat and Megan. Black Hat holds his closed fist up in front of him. Megan throws both arms up in the air.]
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:[Zoom out on Black Hat and Megan. Black Hat has closed his fist. Megan holds her arms up in the air.]
 
: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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[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
 
[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Science]]
 
[[Category:Science]]
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[[Category:Scientific research]]
 

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