How We Learn
The duo awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine met while waiting in the same line.

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman met in 1998 at the University of Pennsylvania. They were waiting in line to use a photocopier. I mage by W. Carter via Creative Commons.

“'I had always wanted to try mRNA,' Weissman said, 'and here was somebody at the Xerox machine telling me that’s what she does.' And as Karikó said: 'I knew little immunology and vaccine biology at the time; I learned most of it from Drew.'

"It was a fruitful match. (On Monday) the duo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work, which ultimately led to the development of effective Covid-19 vaccines. (mRNA vaccines are currently being tested in everything from pancreatic cancer to flu.)" - David Epstein

Epstein uses this story of amazing synchronicity to make an important observation: With more remote and hybrid work, we probably have to be more thoughtful about creating connections.

Article: The Latest Nobel Prize is a Testament to the Importance of Serendipitous Collisions.