On Handling the Data by M. I. Mayfield
"On Handling the Data" by M. I. Mayfield is a science fiction story written in the late 1950s. The book takes the form of a series of letters, focusing on the complexities and confusions faced by a graduate student—Jonathan Wells—pursuing research in cellular physiology. The narrative delves into themes of scientific inquiry, the nature of knowledge, and the unexpected results that often occur in scientific experiments, hinting at the deeper philosophical implications
of data handling in scientific research. The storyline follows Jonathan as he communicates with Dr. Robert Von Engen, an editor and respected figure in the field of science. Through his letters, Jonathan describes his experiences in the laboratory, where he grapples with contradictory experimental results that defy expected outcomes. His burgeoning realization suggests that these inconsistencies may reveal more than mere errors; they challenge the established scientific narratives and question the very nature of reality that science attempts to study. As he gathers conflicting data about nucleic acid synthesis in frog liver cells, Jonathan's journey reflects the broader struggle between empirical science and the philosophical questions it raises, culminating in his evolving understanding of what it means to conduct research in a complex and often uncertain field. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Mayfield, M. I. |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Freas, Kelly, 1922-2005 |
| Title | On Handling the Data |
| Series Title | Produced from Astounding Science Fiction, September, 1959. |
| Note | Reading ease score: 54.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Credits | E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, L. N. Yaddanapudi, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Epistolary fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 23429 |
| Release Date | Nov 10, 2007 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jan 3, 2021 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 129 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
