Laptops and neck strain

Over the last few weeks, I've been writing a scientific paper, which involves spending long days in front of the computer. And my keen scientific mind has detected a pattern: the more time I spend on my cherished little Macintosh laptop, the more my neck hurts at the end of the day. That's right, my paper is a pain in the neck - literally.

I consulted with my housemate Joel about this, who is A. a genius and B. knowledgeable about Macbooks. He lent me his wireless keyboard and mouse. "It lets you point your head in one place and your arms somewhere else," he explained. "Just gives you an extra degree of freedom." This would surely prevent me from future trauma, but what of my current pain in the neck?

Last time, y'all recommended a hot water bottle. I decided to go one further and fire up the big dog: our hot tub, which overlooks the bay. I got my old yeshiva buddy Yuda to join me. The soak was perfect and my neck thanked me after.

As a scientist, I'm fascinated by questions of tissue homeostasis. How does every day wear-and-tear on our bodies affect us fifty years down the road? What proportion of human aging can be reduced simply by taking ergonomic precautions? Whether it's typing, pipetting, or standing for hours on end, ergonomics come up a lot in the lab. From a biology standpoint, this field is wide open.

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