On Handling the Data

"On Handling the Data" by M. I. Mayfield is a science fiction story presented as a series of letters that explores the challenges a graduate student faces while researching cellular physiology. Following Jonathan Wells' research and correspondence with Dr. Robert Von Engen, the story dives into how confusing scientific experiments can be and their impact on understanding the nature of knowledge. Jonathan’s laboratory experiences lead him to question unexpected results, suggesting that the discrepancies he finds in his nucleic acid research with frog liver cells might reveal more than just mistakes. His communications highlight the tension between empirical science and the philosophical questions it raises, showing his developing view of navigating the complexities and uncertainties of research and the way we study the very nature of reality.