Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

This week's question from the mothership is a fantasy-type of question.

Question: Assuming that time and money were not obstacles, what area of scientific research, outside of your own discipline, would you most like to explore? Why?

There are several avenues of research that appeal to me, all of which are "cutting edge" fields that of course, are quite exciting.

First, I would love to study avian influenza viruses, which I think are utterly fascinating. I would be especially interested to research the evolution of lethality in these viruses and identifying which molecular changes are necessary for these viruses to develop and support the ability to "jump" from one host species to another.

Second, I'd really enjoy doing birdsong research. In fact, while I was working in cancer research before "throwing my hat into the ring" by going to grad school, I followed Fernando Nottebohm's birdsong research, and became convinced that there was a place for me, a molecular biologist, in avian research after I noticed that Nottebohm, a cell biologist, was not doing any molecular research into this fascinating phenomenon.

Third, I'd be interested to pursue research into endocrine disruptors; these are estrogenic compounds that are environmental pollutants that are found in the watershed, and disrupt the reproductive and developmental processes of animals, typically fishes and amphibians, but also wildlife and even humans as well.

If I was to choose something outside of biology altogether, I'd be interested in either being a chemist, studying transition metals; or I'd become an astronomer, studying the big bang and the origins of the universe. Or maybe I'd study black holes (or are they really green holes?).

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