A recent Nature article highlights the memorable scientific gifts that have shaped academics’ interests and careers in science. Several academics highlighted gifts they received as children that sparked their interest, including a refractor telescope, a sheep skull, and cow eyes for dissection. Others spoke about handmade gifts that bolstered their interest in their research areas, including a needle-felt brain, a plushie representing a permuted protein, and a bacteriophage cheese board. Several researchers highlighted gifts they had received that held special meaning, including special memories of how family members made it possible for them to pursue their scientific interests.
Nature
