Chemotherapy drugs were originally developed from the dyeing industry in the 19th century, where scientists looked at molecules and identified what they did to the cells. However, many experiments were done on children with leukemia, who unfortunately died due to miscalculations, leading to modifications of the drugs.
The speaker discusses the tension between the desire to uncover the mysteries of science and the practicality of finding solutions to problems without necessarily fully understanding them. As computer scientists, they have succeeded in certain areas because they are not focused on understanding and instead focus on practical solutions.
In this episode, the speaker shares her experience of coping with a brain disease while pursuing a career in academia, including struggling with the diagnosis and the impact on her work.
It's essential to take the time to understand what matters to you and pursue your vision, even if it's different from what matters to the rest of your scientific community.
The speaker highlights the value of health and how often it is taken for granted. Seeing the community of people at a hospital made him appreciate his health and the ability to do whatever he wants with his body.