Everyday Native English (08): Small Talks

Small talk can be a great way to break the ice and meet new people. It can also be a way to connect with people you already know on a deeper level. By asking questions and sharing your own interests, you can build relationships and make new friends.

1. Weather: "It's a beautiful day today, isn't it?" "I can't believe how hot it is today." "I'm so glad the rain finally stopped."
2. Current events: "Did you see the news about [current event]?" "What do you think about [current event]?" "I'm really interested in learning more about [current event]."
3. Hobbies and interests: "What do you like to do for fun?" "What are you passionate about?" "Do you have any hobbies that you're really into?"
4. Food and drink: "What's your favorite food?" "Have you tried the new restaurant on [street name]?" "What's your favorite drink to order at a coffee shop?"
5. Travel: "Have you traveled anywhere interesting lately?" "Where's your dream vacation spot?" "What's your favorite place you've ever been?"
6. Work: "What do you do for a living?" "What's the best part of your job?" "What are you working on right now?"
7. School: "What are you studying?" "What's your favorite class?" "What are your plans after graduation?"
8. Sports: "Are you a fan of any sports teams?" "What's your favorite sport to watch?" "What's your favorite sport to play?"
9. Entertainment: "What's your favorite TV show?" "What's the last movie you saw in theaters?" "What kind of music do you like to listen to?"
10. Holidays: "What's your favorite holiday?" "What are you doing for [upcoming holiday]?" "Do you have any special traditions for [holiday]?"

Here are some examples of how to use these small talks to start conversations:

• Weather: "It's a beautiful day today, isn't it? What are your plans for the weekend?"
• Current events: "Did you see the news about the new space telescope? I'm so excited to see what it discovers."
• Hobbies and interests: "I love to read. What are you reading right now?"
• Food and drink: "I'm trying the new coffee shop on the corner. What's your favorite drink to order there?"
• Travel: "I've always wanted to visit Iceland. Have you ever been?"
• Work: "I'm a software engineer. What do you do for a living?"
• School: "I'm studying computer science. What are you studying?"
• Sports: "I'm a big fan of the Lakers. Are you a fan of any sports teams?"
• Entertainment: "I'm really into the new season of Stranger Things. Have you seen it yet?"
• Holidays: "My favorite holiday is Halloween. What's your favorite holiday?"

Everyday Native English (07)

You can use these phrases to start a conversation with anyone in the morning, whether it's a coworker, friend, or family member. They're a great way to be friendly and show that you're interested in the other person's day.

• "Good morning! How are you today?"
• "How was your night? Did you get a good sleep?"
• "What's on your agenda today? Any big meetings or presentations?"
• "Looking forward to the weekend? Any plans?"
• "Any big plans for today? I'm thinking of going to the park after work."
• "I love this weather! It's so sunny and warm."
• "That's a great outfit! I love that shirt."
• "How's the coffee? I'm still waiting for mine."
• "Did you see the news this morning? Did you hear about the big storm last night?"
• "What's your favorite thing about working here? I love the people and the culture."
• "I'm so glad it's Friday! I'm ready for the weekend."
• "Have a great day! See you tomorrow."

  

Everyday Native English (05)

✅off the grid

Unrecorded, untraceable through normal means

For example

• I will be off the grid soon on a road trip.

✅work out

我把。。。想好了

• I had a whole story worked out /我把编的故事都想好了
• I have my whole presentation worked out/我的演讲都准备好了
• Don't worry. We got the whole thing worked out/别担心，我们已经准备好了

✅sell sb out

出卖某人

• He sold me out/他出卖了我
• You gave me your work. You sold me out./你向我保证过。你出卖了我

✅buy sth

相信。。。

• I didn't think the doctor was gonna buy that
• No one is gonna buy that
• I wouldn't buy his story.

✅make sth up

你编的吧？

• Oh, I made up some lame excuse
• You made it up, right?

✅It's totally lame

完全没有说服力

• It is totally a lame excuse. Noboday is buying it./太没有说服力了。没有人会信的
• Cause honestly, it is totally lame.

✅I take your word for it

我相信你说的

• But he's really smart. We'll take your word for it./我们信你说的 

✅see for yourself

你自己看

• See for yourself/你自己看
• Wallac is clean, see for yourself.

✅get it cleared up

解决这件事

• Do not contact Eyal Lavin. Not until we get this cleared up.

 

Everyday Native English (04)

✅This is what I love about this city

这就是我爱这座城市的原因

For example

• Oh my god, this is what I love about this city. You're always bumping into people.

✅What are you doing here?

你怎么在这啊？

✅What do you propose we do?

你说我们该怎么办？

For example

• What do you propose we do here?

✅I'll reason with him

我来和他讲道理

For example

• You could reason with him. You don't know him.
• Give me a few days and I'll reason with him.

✅Talk sb into sth

说服某人做。。。

For example

• He talked you into this? I talked him into this.
• Dr. Decavoli's trying to talk him into taking some time off from work.
• You really think you can talk him into this?

✅Talk sb out of (doing) sth

说服某人不去做。。。

For example

• I came here to give you a chance to talk me out of leaving.

✅I'll get through to him

我会让他理解的

For example

• I was getting through to him.
• I don't know how to get through to him.
• Trust me. I'll get through to him.

✅Gang up on sb

联合起来对付某人

For example

• You remember how you felt when you thought that Eli and I were ganging up on you.

✅

Everyday Native English (03)

✅I was a little insecure

我有点不自信

For example

• I am insecure (我没有安全感）
• You're just insecure.
• How can a hot guy like you be so insecure (像你这样的帅哥怎么能这样没有安全感?)
• 
  

✅If it weren't for me

要不是有我

For example

• I truly believe that I would not be alive today if it weren't for this woman.
• I think I would've given up entirely if it weren't for you and Molly.
• If it weren't for him, we never would've found you.
• You wouldn't have any of this if it weren't for me.

✅You did what you could

你想尽办法。。。

For example

• I did what I could.

✅In case you forgot

你可别忘记了

For example

• In case you forgot, we'll be in the library from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.
• Exams are in a month, in case you forgot.
• In case you forgot, you're still living under my roof.

✅Keep me that way

让我保持那样 (不自信的状态）

For example

• You want to keep me that way
• Let's keep it that way
• Keep it that way
• I know you did what you could to keep me that way.

✅barely said two words [a word/ten words] to me

你都没有怎么和我说话

For example

• You know, you've barely said two words to me the entire evening.
• You've barely said a word in 20 minutes.
• You've barely said ten words to me all week.

✅I was gonna say ...

我本想说

For example

• I was gonna say passion
• I was gonna say a nice guy like you

✅Give me the drill

给我说明了情况

For example

• Cameron gave me the drill
• As soon as Mason is well enough, we'll give him the drill

✅Know the drill

我知道怎么做

For example

• Ok, this is not my first time. I know the drill.
• You know the drill (你是懂规矩的)

✅So can I just be honest with you

所以我能告诉你实话吗？

For example

• I'll be honest with you. You be honest with me.
• I'm just gonna be honest with him.

✅If you ask me

我的意见是。。。

For example

• If you ask me, the kid is very lucky.
• Spooky, if you ask me

✅You'd be much better off

（建议）你。。。会更开心

For example

• You'd be better off just being you
• You'd all be better off coming upstairs to my place for a beer

✅Request a transfer/transfer request

申请调岗

For example

• I'm going to request a transfer
• That is a transfer request
• I'll be expecting your transfer request first thing in the morning

✅We can make that happen

我可以搞定

For example

• I'll make that happen
• We can make that happen
• Yeah I can do that, I mean, I could make that happen

  Everyday Native English (01)

• You got a minute?/You got a minute to talk about ...?

你有空吗？/你有空谈谈。。。吗？

Examples （例子）

> You got a minute? I really need to talk to you.

•  Hang on (a sec)

稍等一下

Examples （例子）

>Yeah, just a sec?

> keeping busy (not a lot. just chill out. 没啥事，放松休息)

> I need to get some coffee. Catch you later. (结束对话）

•  I just wanted to see if you were both okay.

来看看你俩是否安好

Examples （例子）

> Just take a bite and see if it's tasty.

 

> You got a minute?

> Hang on a sec

> what's up?

> I'm thinking of ordering pizza. I want to see if you'd like one

> Sounds good. I am hungry

•  What's gotten into you?

你怎么回事啊？

• Push sb around

欺负，摆布某人

Examples （例子）

> I don't have to let you push me around any more.

 > I neve pushed you around 

> It's not violent, it's self-defense. You can't let this kid keep pushing you around. 

• Don't take it personally

别往心里去

Examples （例子）

> Was it just me, or was that a little abrupt?

> Don't take it personally. I think she's got other things on her mind

> He was being a jerk to everyone.  Don't take it personally.

• Put yourself in sb's shoes

设身处地，换位思考

Examples （例子）

> If you put yourself in my shoes, you'll understand why I'm so angry.

 

> what's gotten into you?

> I got told off by the boss again.

> I won't let him push me around 

> Well, don't take it personally.

>  I am sure he was just having a bad day. Have you tried putting yourself in his shoes? You'll feel so much better. It's worth a shot.

• How is ... coming along?

。。。进展如何了

Examples （例子）

> How is your work coming along?

> I am coming along very well 

> Things are really coming along. 

• There is still room for improvement.

还有进步的空间

• Keep it up

继续保持

Examples （例子）

> There you go. This is good

>Okay, come on, guys. You've got to keep it up.

> Listen, keep up the good work, OK?

> how is your project coming along?
> I am still working on it. There is still room for improvement. What about you?
> Well, I started learning French weeks ago, I think it's coming along pretty well.
> Keep it up!

 

 Small Talks in Native English

• Long time no see

好久不见

Examples （例子）

> Long time no see.

> What's new? (what have you been up to?)

> Same old same old (I've been doing...)

> Enough about me. What about you?

> Tell someone I said hi. (Seriously, David. Tell your mom I say hi.)

 

•  what are you up to this weekend?

这周末有什么计划？

Examples （例子）

> what are you up to this weekend?

> keeping busy (not a lot. just chill out. 没啥事，放松休息)

> I need to get some coffee. Catch you later. (结束对话）

•  (以赞美开始）I love your pants. (if you don't mind me/my asking) Where did you get them?

• I see. I should pop into their store some day.

闲聊天气

• It'd (would) be nice if we could get more sunshine

• Lovely day, isn't it? (反话：天可真好啊（下雨））

• It is really coming down out there!

外面雨真大啊

 

Greetings/invitations in Native English

• How are you doing?/how is it going?

你怎么样？

•  How's your work?

工作如何？

•  What's up?

Examples （例子）

> What's up?

> Nothing new. /Same as before./Not bad.

• You look great/fantastic!

• You are in pretty good shape!

> How's it going?

> Nothing new/Not bad.

>  How are you doing?

> I am doing great.

> Look at you, you look fantastic!

>  Thanks. You're in pretty good shape too.

• Do you have plans tonight?

• We have to have dinner. What are you doing tomorrow night?

• Will you come over for dinner? 
• 你愿意过来吃饭吗？
• Yeah, I'd love to. Sounds great!
• Sorry, I don't think I can make it.
• Can I take a rain check? (下次好吗？）

> Do you have plans tonight?

> Nothing special.

>  Great, will you come over for dinner?

> Sounds great!

> See you then

> what are you doing this afternoon? Come over for a cup of coffee.

> Sorry. Can I take a rain check? I have an appointment with the doctor.

> Sure. Let's do it another time then.

 VERBS in Native English

• run into/ask sb over

偶遇某人，邀请到家里做客

Examples （例子）

I ran into an old friend today. I want to ask her over this weekend.

The new neighbor asked us over for a cup of coffee. It is good to get together.

•  take off/drop by

匆匆离开/飞机起飞/顺道拜访

Examples （例子）

I should probably take off. 

The plane will take off in an hour. 

I'll drop by sometime.

•  see sb off

送别某人

Examples （例子）

I'll see you off at the airport.

> It's getting late. I should probably take off.

> But we're having such a good time.

> I'll drop by tomorrow morning.

> The plane will take off at 11 am.

> I'll see you off at the airport.

• go through

经历，承受（困难）

Examples （例子）

I've been going through a lot recently.

I have no idea what you went through.

• show sb around

带某人参观

Examples （例子）

> Let me show you around (the city).

> You must be exhausted.

•  go for/go with

选择/。。。与。。。很搭配

Examples （例子）

>I think I'll go for that white T-shirt. It goes so well with my jeans.

> The banana goes so well with the milk. 

•  put off sth/put off doing sth

推迟，拖延

Examples （例子）

> We have to put off the meeting.

> I keep putting off doing the work.

•  screw up

搞砸，弄糟

Examples （例子）

> Sorry, I screwed up

> Don't screw it up this time.

•  figure out

弄清楚，弄明白

Examples （例子）

> I can't figure out how to do this.

> I can't figure out what the problem is.

•  turn to ...

向。。。求助

Examples （例子）

> She is a very trustworthy person you can turn to.

> I have no one to turn to.

   

• pull sth off

完成（困难的事情）

Examples （例子）

> I never throught you'd pull it off (我没想到你真把事情办成了）.

 

VERY in Native English

• It's awesome! (it is very good)

超赞

Examples （例子）

Come check out these gloves. They're awesome.

> I got the job.

> That's awesome! 

•  I'm thrilled. (I am very happy)

我超激动

Examples （例子）

I am thrilled to hear the news.

•  on cloud nine

欣喜若狂

Examples （例子）

Peterson's on cloud nine. He discovered some inside scoop on the metro account.

•  She is devastated (she is very sad)

她很伤心

Examples （例子）

Julie told me about Ian. I am so sorry. You must be devastated.

> You seem so thrilled

> Yeah, I got the offer from one top university

> That's awesome!

>What about Jack?

> Oh, he failed, and now he is devastated.

•  I'm so swamped ( I am very busy)

我好忙

Examples （例子）

I'm so swamped today. My house is a mess.

I'm swamped with work.

•  I am wiped out/exhausted (I'm very tired)

我好累

Examples （例子）

> It is a long trek.

> You must be exhausted.

•  That's a tough one (very difficult)

好难，让人头疼

Examples （例子）

>That's a tough decision to make.

> She's been having a tough time. 

•  She is a total nightmare (she is difficult)

太难相处

Examples （例子）

> You look exhausted. Are you OK?

> My boss is a nightmare. He asked me to get all the work done in three days.

          > No wonder you are so swamped these days. Maybe you can think about changing your job.

> That's a tough decision to make.

•  awful (very bad)

很差

Examples （例子）

> How is the food?

> It's awful.

          > 

> I feel awful about it.

•  rip...off (very expensive)

很贵

Examples （例子）

> They're totally ripping us off. (他们在坑我们钱）

> Dad, remember that time you're getting ripped off.

          > We got ripped off.

•  pissed...off/ furious (very angry)

很生气

Examples （例子）

> I'm pissed off. (我真的很生气）

> I was really pissed off when I got ripped off

          > I'm furious (我真的相当恼火）about what he did.

> how was the restaurant?

> Forget it. The food was awful. And the meal cost us $300.

> I think you got ripped off.

English sentence patterns in everyday life

 English sentence patterns in everyday life (01)

• What do you say we do sth?

我们一起去。。。如何？（一般是期待肯定回答）

Examples （例子）

What do you say we go for a jog? 

what do you say we get some pizza? 

•  I'm dying to ...

我超级想。。。

Examples （例子）

I am dying to watch that movie.

I've been dying to try that place out. But they don't take reservations.

 

•  Let (silent t) me get ...

让我带上。。。

Examples （例子）

Let me get my camera.

Let me get my sweater.

 

•  Let me get you sth

让我帮你带上。。。

Examples （例子）

Let me get you some coffee.

Let me get you something to eat.

 > what do you say we go for a walk nearby?

> sounds great.

> I'm dying to get some fresh air

> It's a bit chilly.

> Let me get my jacket.

•  What are you up to tonight?

你今晚做什么？(将来的计划）

Examples （例子）

what are you up to tomorrow?

What have you been up to? (你最近都在做什么）

•  I have ... coming up/I've got ... coming up

我有。。。即将到来

Examples （例子）

I have something coming up.

I've got some interviews coming up.

Do you have any projects coming up? 

•  I figure I'd better do ...

我觉得我最好还是。。。

Examples （例子）

I figure I'd better do some work.

•  If you don't feel like doing ...

如果你不想。。。

Examples （例子）

If you don't feel like being alone tonight, you can come over to help me.

If you don't feel like staying at home, we can go have a drink.

> what are you up to tonight?

> I've got finals coming up.

>  I figure I'd better work on my lessons.

> Ok. I was going to ask you to go shopping with me. I need your advice.

> If you don't feel like being alone, we can do some shopping nearby.

•  Did you hear about sth/sb?/Have you heard about sth/sb?

你听说。。。？

Examples （例子）

Did you hear about the accident downtown yesterday?

Have you heard about the fire?

•  What about sth/sb?

。。。具体怎么样？

Examples （例子）

> did you hear about Linda

          > what about her? 

•  How come ...?

。。。是怎么回事？

Examples （例子）

> How come you are working here?

          > How come you two broke up? 

•  Here is the deal ...

事情是这样的

Examples （例子）

> Why is your girlfriend so mad at you?

          > Okay. Here is the deal. She caught me texting my ex.

•  I have to say ...

我不得不说。。。

Examples （例子）

> I have to say, you are a bit needy.

          > I have to say, it makes sense.

> Did you hear about Linda?

> What about her?

> She broke up with her boyfriend.

> How come they broke up?

> Here is the deal. She caught her boyfriend texting his ex.

> I have to say, what he did really crossed the line.

How to say 'I think' in different ways

Stronger

• I Believe
• I'm convinced
• The way I see it
• If you ask me
• In my opinion
• From my point of view
• From my perspective
• As far as I'm concerned

Weaker

• I guess
• I suppose
• As far as I know
• As far as I can tell
• To the best of my knowledge
• Based on my assessment
• If I'm not mistaken
• I would say

Idiomatic English Expressions (英语中的成语，你了解多少？）（I）

 Idiomatic English Expressions (英语中的成语，你了解多少？）（I）

• Idiom

Put simply, idiomatic expressions are idioms. Okay, well then what’s an idiom? It’s a group of words where the meaning cannot be inferred simply by looking at each of the words.

Or

An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.

• A Friend In Need Is a Friend Indeed

A real friend will be there to help, even in difficult situations.

• As Busy As a Bee

Someone that has a lot of work to do; they are busy, like a bee.

• Apple Of My Eye

Cherishing someone or something; being fond of another.

• An Elephant Never Forgets

Someone with a good memory.

• A piece of cake 

means something that’s easy to do.

E.g., That job was a piece of cake.

• Dodge a bullet

Manage to avoid a difficult or unwelcome situation.

E.g., Sydney dodges a bullet on floods as the clean-up begins

• Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

An idiomatic expression for an avoidable error in which something good is eliminated when trying to get rid of something bad, or in other words, rejecting the favourable along with the unfavourable.

• It’s raining cats and dogs outside.

That means it is pouring rain!

• Tickled pink

I was tickled pink when I heard the news. (In other words, he was very happy.) 

• Cloud nine

She was on cloud nine after receiving a hefty raise. (Another expression for feeling happy.) 

• Under the weather

I’m going to stay in bed because I’m feeling under the weather. (A person who is feeling either sad or sick.) 

• not exactly rocket science

Fixing a bike is not exactly rocket science. (Fixing a bike is simple, to put it another way) 

• a needle in a haystack

I’m trying to find the remote, but it’s a needle in a haystack. (In other words, he’s having a hard time finding it.) 

• no-brainer

It’s hot outside, so staying inside today was a no-brainer for me. (It means the choice was very easy to make.)

• not exactly rocket science

Fixing a bike is not exactly rocket science. (Fixing a bike is simple, to put it another way) 

• a needle in a haystack

I’m trying to find the remote, but it’s a needle in a haystack. (In other words, he’s having a hard time finding it.) 

• Quitting cold turkey

To quit cold turkey is to stop a bad habit immediately.

• ​Spill the beans

If someone spills the beans, they revealed a secret.

• ​In a pickle

To be in a pickle is to be in a tough spot.

• Hit the nail on the head

Hitting the nail on the head is doing or saying something that is precisely correct.

• Cost an arm and a leg

If something costs an arm and a leg, then it is very expensive. (e.g., This car is going to cost me an arm and a leg.)

• Going out on a limb

Taking a guess. (e.g., I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he doesn’t like chocolate.)

• Jump the gun

Jumping the gun means going too soon; doing something earlier than you were supposed to.

• Driving me nuts

To be greatly frustrated or annoyed.

• Hold your horses

Telling someone to stop, or to wait. (e.g., Hold your horses, I’m not ready yet.)

• A cup of joe

This is a nickname for a cup of coffee.

• An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Eating an apple (or fruits and vegetables) daily can help to keep the doctor away.

• All Greek To Me

Something that is extremely difficult to understand because of its complexity; unintelligible.

• All Bark And No Bite

Someone is full of talk but has no action behind their words.

• Actions Speak Louder Than Words

A person’s actions have more of an impact than just their words alone.

• A Chip On Your Shoulder

Being angry about something that happened in the past.

• A Dime a Dozen

Something that’s abundant in quantity and/or cheap; something that’s easily acquired.

• A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted

If someone acts foolish with their money, they will quickly lose it.

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It is quite interesting to observe the change of shapes under some stimulus for better structures and functions.

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Part of the tantalizing promise of nanoparticles is that they can serve as building blocks of complex systems that could outperform other materials. For example, different structures could form depending on the shape of the nanoparticles. A stimulus, such as a change in temperature or the addition of a small molecule, that changes nanoparticle shape could create a new structure with a different function. Nature provides a large example set of nanoparticles in the form of proteins, which can be studied to gain insight into shape-dependent assembly. In a recent paper, Ojeda-Lopez et al. (1<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6174/981.full#ref-1>) describe a new shape-changing mechanism that dramatically alters how a protein system assembles. The α–β tubulin dimer naturally polymerizes to form microtubules. The authors discovered that adding a highly charged small molecule, spermine, causes a shape transformation. The tubules assemble within an inverted structure compared to that of the original microtubules.
Microtubules, the track along which kinesin motor proteins walk, are a key component underlying cellular transport and cell division (2<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6174/981.full#ref-2>). These functions occur in part because of the special properties derived from tubulin, which are of interest to general polymer physics and to the development of synthetic systems, such as ones performing nanoscale transport (3<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6174/981.full#ref-3>). Microtubules assemble, dissociate, and reassemble in cells, and the dynamics of polymerization and depolymerization depends on binding of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and its dephosphorylation to guanosine diphosphate (GDP). With GTP bound to tubulin, straight growth of the tubule occurs, but the transition to GDP alters the tubulin geometry, tending to cause filaments to peel away in arcs, and leads to catastrophic depolymerization.
Ojeda-Lopez et al. stabilized the microtubules using taxol. The subsequent addition of spermine produced arcs peeling away from the tubule, similar to the effect of dephosphorylation (see the figure). However, the spermine-induced structure is an inverted tubulin tubule (ITT)—a spiral tubule with tubulin orientation inverted with respect to the microtubule orientation. The ITT has a larger diameter, 40 nm, versus 24 nm for microtubules.


Feed: Science: Current Issue
Posted on: Friday, 28 February 2014 11:00 AM
Author: Mark J. Stevens
Subject: [Perspective] How Shape Affects Microtubule and Nanoparticle Assembly

Models of nanoparticle assembly can help explain aspects of the inverted structure that forms because of induced change in tubulin protein shape. Author: Mark J. Stevens


View article...<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6174/981.abstract?rss=1>

FW: The meaning of life

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JACEY
Jack Rowe, Junior will be ten tomorrow. He watches his father scroll equations across the computer monitor. Jack Senior insists on saturating Junior with mathematical concepts like covariation and limits, and physical concepts like energy and entropy. Junior prefers video games, but Senior uses too much computer time for Junior to play.
Father glances at son. "I'll be online for at least two hours."
Junior sighs.
"You need some purpose in your life, Son."
"I don't get it."
"Your mother taught me the purpose of life when she insisted we rearrange the furniture."
"Dad, can't you finish sooner?"
"With the story, yes. With the computer, no. Don't you want to know the purpose of life? Eventually, someone will ask you, and it's good to have an answer."
Junior offers a non-committal shrug.
Senior leans closer and confides: "The purpose of life is to move stuff from over there to over here."
"Huh? Why?"

FW: A lateral thinker

What are the big questions in chemistry today?
"The big fundamental problems today are in physics and biology."
Chemistry doesn't have any really big fundamental problems. The last big question in chemistry was 'what is the nature of the chemical bond?' — and that was answered almost 100 years ago with the advent of quantum mechanics. The big fundamental problems today are in physics and biology.
In physics, the big question is: how can the two great theories in physics — quantum physics and the theory of gravitation — be unified? There are other questions: what is the content of our Universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? Only four per cent of the Universe is the matter that we are made of; what is the rest?
In biology, there is: what is life? We know which elements are important for life, but will it ever be possible for humans to create artificial life? These are the big questions. Chemistry has nothing compared with this.
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FW: The technology starter

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What are the risks associated with starting up a business?
Most start-ups fail. We tell the students that failure is OK. We obviously don't recommend failure, but if you fail, it is not personal, it is not a shame. If you fail, you start again. You failed either because you made a mistake, which you will not make again, or because of something that you could not foresee, like a shift in the market. I trust you more than a novice to entrepreneurship because you have been through the process; you are now an experienced entrepreneur.
How can someone avoid the common pitfalls of financing a start-up?
We teach our students where to get money and what money not to touch. Not all money is the same. For instance, never touch your own money, and never take money from your relatives or friends because there is a good chance that you will lose your relatives and your friends. Good money comes with good advice or with help in marketing, from strategic partners or business angels who trust your idea and want to work with you. I have a problem with venture capitalists: although they can make a lot of money available, they want their money back too soon — within five years. In five years you cannot strive, you cannot build your start-up to become a good, large company.
"The value of your company now is exactly zero. Be generous with that zero."
Or you can do boot-strapping: working without money. You might need other people's expertise and without money you cannot pay for it. But you do have something valuable that you can share: your company. Give them a share of your company, and be generous. The value of your company now is exactly zero. Be generous with that zero. If you are successful, in the end there will be plenty of money for everybody.
Could anyone become an entrepreneur?

FW: The bond shifter

What applications and developments do you foresee for olefin metathesis?
I'm particularly happy about a drug that is currently in phase III testing called vaniprevir (from Merck), which is targeted against the hepatitis C virus. Our olefin metathesis catalyst is really important for the formation of this drug. Another application that I am excited about, and that I spoke about at the Lindau meeting, is the use of metathesis in pheromone synthesis. This might allow toxic and unselective pesticides to be replaced by naturally occurring pheromones that can, for example, disrupt mating patterns in selected insects. My intuition tells me that this is going to be big — but most of it is out of my hands.
Olefin metathesis is an important part of undergraduate chemistry. Do you enjoy lecturing on a topic in which your contribution has been so important?
It's fun to talk about because you can provide a lot of background. I'm not sure the students appreciate it, but that's okay. They don't seem overwhelmed at being taught by a Nobel laureate. At Caltech we have five Nobel laureates on campus — three in chemistry — so it's not a big deal for them.
Is academic science research becoming dependent on industry funding?
Yes, but industry is having similar financial problems to academia and has also cut back on its funding of basic research. Big companies used to help the transition from research in the laboratory to commercialization. When I started doing the early metathesis work, people from big companies would show up and want to test the catalysts. Now, most of the commercialization is done by small companies who are bridging the gap between the laboratory and industry.
What advice do you have for young researchers who wish to pursue a career in academia?
It is a great career if you can get in, but it is tough right now because of funding cuts. It will require particularly dedicated young researchers. Ten years ago, when a researcher entered academia there were good start-up packages, with lots of graduate students and funding. We will probably have to reduce some of that support and make tenure decisions earlier. The day of the really big research group is over. I must admit that I am sort of glad I'm old!

FW: A man of many dimensions

After finishing your PhD you took a job in industry rather than staying in academia. Was this your plan?
I was fed up with the university atmosphere and wanted a change. I also wanted to leave Switzerland. California was the right place to look for another job. It had to be in industry; I wanted to become a useful member of society and not just an academic playboy. I took a job with Varian Associates in Palo Alto, California, continuing working on NMR development.
After five years I returned to ETH Zurich, where I had studied for my doctorate. That was a mistake: I'd always sworn that I would never go back. After about two years, I had a nervous breakdown. I thought that was the end of my scientific career. I considered going to work in a post office and stamping envelopes. Very slowly after a long struggle with myself, I became a scientist again. But it was hard to start over.
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