Science and Fiction: The Lab as a Portal to Other Worlds, a guest post by Karen Bao, Ph.D.

At the beginning of my Ph.D. in biology, I didn’t expect to write a murder mystery set in a lab in space. However, I did encounter a rush of scientific and storytelling inspiration the moment I set foot on campus. My surroundings seemed idyllic: it felt like I could pick any question in the world to answer with the wealth of resources at my disposal. Measuring the electrical signals in jellyfish-like animals’ stinging cells, building enclosures to measure bumblebee colonies’ behavior upon pesticide exposure, or using an electron beam to image the connections between mosquito neurons? I tried them all. (And eventually went with the mosquitos.)

My new novel, Pangu’s Shadow, follows Aryl and Ver, two apprentice scientists from foreign moons who are falsely accused of murdering their brilliant but difficult boss, Cal. Their motives seem obvious. Ver, who left her home to study the life-threatening disease wracking her body, had a hopeless attachment to Cal that could have become twisted by jealousy. Aryl, on the other hand, clashed with workaholic Cal because she valued more in her life besides research. As they follow soundbites and chemical traces across the star system, they uncover secrets that have shaped all of Pangu’s moons… and must decide what kind of future they really want.

I was buzzing with excitement as I wrote the book. By day, I learned how to use the machine shop’s laser cutter and band saw, work with dangerous chemicals that were perfect for inclusion in a mystery novel, and imaged mosquito neurons with an electron microscope from the ‘80s that looked like a spaceship control board from Star Trek. By night, I pictured a futuristic research institute where young scientists could ask questions about the universe with ease. Most of the near-miraculous scientific equipment at the Institute for Natural Exploration was inspired by my own frustration with complex protocols and the limitations of modern-day instruments. Complete with A.I. assistants, seamless sequencing experiments, and underground vacuum trains, the setting of Pangu’s Shadow was born.

As I found my path in my graduate program, I leaned on my Chinese immigrant parents for advice on choosing a lab and performing at my best. Decades ago, they entered chemistry Ph.D. programs in the U.S. to make a better life for themselves, their parents, and their future children. Their scientific achievements led to stability and opportunities for me and my brother, and I began to more deeply empathize with their hard work and sacrifices. My family’s shared experiences in academic science informed the backstories of the two protagonists, both of whom followed their dreams to lab benches far from home. Most of Ver’s point-of-view chapters begin with a science fact that helps her make sense of the situation. Aryl, on the other hand, observes people and their emotions with precision. Though the two girls start off suspicious of each other, eventually their shared struggle as outsiders and their big dreams create a strong bond. Their rivals-to-allies sleuthing was a joy to write.

As graduate school progressed, I found that stereotypes, assumptions, and power structures sometimes presented bigger challenges than science itself. My first year, a chronic back injury left me unable to sit or stand for long. I sometimes used a cane or a back brace, prompting bewilderment and sometimes cruelty from people around me. The constant physical pain and misunderstandings from others inspired Ver’s fictional degenerative disability, which she’s been furiously researching to save her own life.

Moreover, I knew that the lack of belonging I sometimes faced was linked to my outward appearance (i.e. being an Asian woman) and did not reflect the skills or knowledge I’d cultivated for years. From the dormitory to the interrogation room, Aryl and Ver’s identities as outsiders – and the stereotypes they face – complicate their mission to find Cal’s real killer. But in the end, they find they’re more than qualified for the task at hand: they overcome the odds with resilience, teamwork, and their own version of the scientific method, adapted for sleuthing. Not coincidentally, my friends and I persevered through our Ph.D.s by leaning on each other and our own inner resources.

Pangu’s Shadow is about the power of science to reveal the truth and who should hold that power (hint: anyone and everyone). Science needs diverse perspectives to investigate the truth from every angle. All it takes to be a scientist is to notice something interesting about the universe, ask questions, and answer them methodically, whether or not this is done in a formal capacity. After finding out “whodunnit” at the end of the book, I’d love for readers to see that anyone can become a scientist – or a writer, for that matter. I hope they follow their curiosity and know that they belong wherever it leads them.

Meet the author

Karen Jialu Bao does science in the lab, then goes home and writes about it. Having earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard University, she studies mosquito brains by blasting them with an electron beam. She has eight ear piercings for no reason. Her favorite activities include cooking, tending her plants, singing, and playing her violin. She is the author of Pangu’s Shadow, the Dove Chronicles trilogy, and a contributor to the YA mental health anthology Ab(solutely) Normal.

X: https://twitter.com/KarenJBao

Instagram:         https://www.instagram.com/karenbao/

TikTok:  http://tiktok.com/karenjbao

Facebook:          https://www.facebook.com/karenbaoauthor

Karen Bao’s Website:   http://www.karenbao.com

About Pangu’s Shadow

There are no second chances in the Pangu Star System.

Ver and Aryl, apprentices at the most prestigious biology lab among the system’s moons, know this better than anyone. They’ve left behind difficult pasts and pinned their hopes for the future on Cal, their brilliant but demanding boss. But one night while working late in the lab, they find Cal sprawled on the floor, dead.

Murdered.

And they immediately become the prime suspects.

Their motives seem obvious. Ver, who left her home moon to study the life-threatening disease wracking her body, had a hopeless attachment to Cal that could’ve become twisted by jealousy. Aryl, on the other hand, clashed with workaholic Cal because she valued more in her life than research.

To clear their names, Ver and Aryl put aside their mutual suspicion and team up to investigate Cal’s death. As they search for the real murderer, they uncover secrets that have shaped all of Pangu’s moons… and must decide what kind of future they really want.

ISBN-13: 9781728477510
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date: 02/06/2024
Age Range: 13-18

Filed under: Guest Post