The Big Headache

"The Big Headache" by Jim Harmon is a fast-paced novella that throws you into the world of experimental science, where good intentions pave the road to bizarre outcomes. It is a story about two biologists who think they've found a way to erase headaches forever through a new virus that affects the pituitary gland. They convince a brilliant mathematician plagued by migraines to undergo their revolutionary process. At first, it feels like a miracle--his pain vanishes. But here's the twist: with the pain gone, so is his genius. He becomes simple-minded and loves it, sparking a wild debate over whether happiness is worth sacrificing intelligence. And as one of the doctors starts seeing dollar signs, the story leaves you wrestling with the question of how far science should go, and the burden that come with a complex mind.