"Mechanistic studies support the formation of CH3+ as a key intermediate."

Credit: Oddity Central

Click here for Dan Singleton, critiquing a recent Science paper within an inch of its life for proposing a methyl cation as a part of its mechanistic pathway.

I have to admit, I'm pretty sure I read the C&EN summary of the paper, and I did not notice the methyl cation. If you like physical organic chemistry, you'll enjoy Professor Singleton's thread.

Friends, back up your (thesis) data

I am a tad bit stonkered that no one else has mentioned this story, but it apparently is true, and happened recently.

(h/t Bruce Schneier, who got it from Geeks are Sexy, who got it from Reddit, naturally.)

(I have altered the photo to make it a slight bit more private, not that it matters a damn. I'm so sorry, dud(ette).)

Seriously, though, it pays to back up your data.