So, there I was, in London. As usual, I had no big plans, so I woke up, did a quick search on the map, and headed to the National Gallery. But, surprise! I ended up at the National Portrait Gallery instead. Getting lost is nothing new for me. I didn’t really have a solid goal for visiting the National Gallery anyway, so I just decided to enjoy the sights. As I wandered through the gallery, admiring the art on the walls, I stumbled upon a photo of James Lovelock, the British scientist who founded the Gaia theory*. Next to the piece, it said:
During World War II, while researching how to prevent burns, Lovelock tested on his own skin instead of a rabbit’s.
Truly a story befitting the founder of the Gaia theory, but I can’t help wondering if he did it because he was too lazy to shave a rabbit’s fur. I mean, if it were me, that would definitely be the reason. Since I’m not the type to grow a long beard, I’m not used to shaving. And those fluffy rabbit furs must be tricky to shave. 🌿
James Lovelock has lived past 100, yet I’ve never seen a photo of him with a beard. Sure, he might have been clean-shaven all the time, but being a scientist absorbed in research, he would have ended up scruffy. Clearly, he must be the type who doesn’t grow a beard easily. Not that it really matters…
* Gaia Theory: A concept that views Earth as a living organism, where both living and non-living components interact, evolve, and change over time.
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