I’m a physicist, and as anyone who watches the popular TV series The Big Bang Theory knows, it’s a commonly held conception that there is a strong connection between being a scientist and being enthralled with all things science fiction, fantasy, and superheroes. Anyone who walks into my office at NIST and notices the TARDIS, U.S.S. Enterprise D, and Admiral “It’s a trap!” Ackbar mug on my bookshelf could draw the same conclusion about me. And if there was any doubt remaining, the picture of me at Comic-Con absolutely confirms the hypothesis.

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