Nobel Intentions!

In one of the rare moments two different friends from the 'research' past reached out and shared with me the headlines on the Nobel Prize for Chemistry (link is to the NYT article) for 2008. Typically when they announce the Nobel prize in chemistry, I look at atleast that day with dread. As a 'chemist' I am supposed to know all of this amazing work. And to be honest, I have no clue almost all the time. These amazing guys do such incredible stuff that it goes so overhead!

But not this time! Of all things this time the prize went to a group that worked on Green Fluorescent Protein from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. I feel that I know this protein coz this and its brother protein Aequorin was what I spent most of the 7 years of research that I ever did. My group has been working on this and as crazy as it may seem I actually was one of the first to begin this work. I never ever thought I would be so close to a Nobel! Probably the closest I will ever get!! 

I was walking around this evening with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. As my friend assured me, I am entitiled to have this 'feeling' today