Another Interstellar Object. Another All-Nighter.

I watched the news roll in—another interstellar object, another chance to chase something that doesn’t belong here. The group chat buzzed with excitement, but all I felt was the ache in my jaw from clenching it too long. I used to think these discoveries would feel like magic. Now it’s just another night staring at data that never looks like the press releases. My advisor’s voice in my head: "Stay sharp, don’t miss the window." I haven’t slept right in weeks. I’m supposed to care about the trajectory, the orbit, the math. But all I can think about is how much I want to stop caring. We’re tracking something that’s not from here, and I barely feel like I belong either. I keep waiting for the wonder to come back. Maybe it’s still out there, somewhere past Jupiter, just out of reach. #Science #ScienceFatigue #LabBurnout