Waiting for the Impact That Never Comes

I watched Neil deGrasse Tyson talk about the asteroid that could wipe out the West Coast. People in the comments joked about it, like it was just another doomsday meme. I thought about how we all keep running simulations, prepping for disasters that probably won’t happen, because it’s easier than facing the slow, silent collapse inside our own heads. Sometimes I wish for something as clear as an asteroid—something you can see coming, a reason to stop pretending. Instead, I keep refreshing my inbox, waiting for the next rejection, the next round of feedback that says, “Not this time.” The world might end in a wave, but most days, it just feels like drowning in data that never means enough. #ScienceFatigue #LabBurnout #AcademicAnxiety