how to kill time "scientifically"? - (Dec/15/2007 )
Hi all,
I am a research student, away from home in a new place and have nothing to do during the weekends. Other than reading paper, doing lab work and exercise (legs injured now), is there any beneficial thing that i can do to kill time? Prefer something that's "scientific"... 
I hang around here 
, I like to read popular scientific journals like Scientific American and books about science history. If the weather is nice (I don`t mean the winter season), I do this in a cafe while drinking my coffee:). So if you are there, I think it`s also nice to find people to spend the weekends:)
To kill time during centrifugation and short incubations, I go on this bioforum, but for the week-end, I prefer to do something completely different.
you could maybe visit some museums? record scientific programs on TV ? (usually they are late, or in the middle on the afternoon during the week, when interested people are working !)
i spend my time on websites, doing housework and cleaning, work on photoshop
it's good to refresh yourself with something different 
Jeepers, take a break from "scientific" stuff and go out and have fun!!! Meet new people and go and see some of the sights of the place you are living now. See some good movies, read a book.....
I find it quite enjoyable to sit down and learn about something totally different from what I do in the lab. For example, I've decided that although I know an awful lot about biochemistry and molecular biology, I know very little about fields like immunology, electrophysiology, etc. Of course, I know the basic theory behind them from undergrad, but I find it interesting to learn the details. For example, until last week I had no idea how patch clamping actually worked in terms of the resistance of the electrode versus the resistance of the voltage meter, or what the difference was between a voltage clamp and a current clamp, but now I do.
And I'm learning a lot more about chemistry these days as well, because I figure that even though I secretly loathe the subject, it always seems to come in handy.Cheers, and get well soon!
Ginger
I joined a local group. it's an animal rescue / education and outreach group devoted to reptiles and amphibians. it's fun, and there's so much to learn for those of us who have always had mammals as pets
Paper-sheet RPGs always come in handy.
Yup, geek socialization
Whether or not you find learning about areas science outside of your own is not the what I was talking about. I too enjoy learning how things work, isn't that why we chose science in the first place??
But what is wrong with wanting to look outside of your chosen field of study and experiencing other aspects of the world, and to experience other aspects of yourself?? To live in such a small niche in the your world makes you a very 1 dimensional person.
I am a scientist, but I also enjoy a variety of other things like watching a good movie, reading a good book, travelling to the country with my partner to fish and snorkle and swim in the ocean, spending time with my friends and family, walking my dog.....the list goes on. Far from make me a less capable scientist I think that these things, experiencing my life in a variety of ways, makes me a better scientist.
So thanks but I don't need to "get well", because I already am!!!
Aside from activities which will give you pleasure and/or intellectual stimulation, have you ever considered doing volunteer work like what Aimikins is suggesting...an extra pair of hands is always appreciated (and a car to go with them would even be better)..there is always the equivalent of the Big Brother/Big Sister (you can teach young underpriveleged kids about science and maybe how to read/write or do basic math 
) in any neighborhood. The local community/civic centers would have all the info...I guarantee you would learn something...