I've been tracking solar storms for three years. G2, G3, cannibal CMEs—I know the language that makes chaos sound manageable. Tonight I'm supposed to be excited. The models say aurora conditions are perfect. My advisor expects a paper. The lab group thinks I have it figured out. But I'm sitting in my office at 2 AM, staring at the same data that should thrill me, and all I feel is empty. I can predict when the sky will light up for strangers in Minnesota, but I can't forecast when this feeling will end. Three failed grant proposals this year. My thesis defense got pushed again. The beautiful phenomena I study feel like they're happening to someone else—someone who still believes their work matters. The aurora will peak tomorrow. I probably won't even look up. #Science #LabBurnout #GradSchoolLife