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Girls, Meet Your New Role Model

Felisa Wolfe-Simon is the young scientist behind the 'new life' discovery

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 3, 2010 3:25 PM CST | Updated Dec 5, 2010 10:36 AM CST

(Newser) Jezebel has a girl crush, and it's a good one. Meet Felisa Wolfe-Simon, the lead scientist behind the whiz-bang discovery about potential new life forms. Though only in her early 30s by "standard graduation-year math," she is already "insanely accomplished by anyone's standards," writes Irin Carmon. She's also a model in varied interests, with a double degree in biology/chemistry and oboe performance from Oberlin, plus a Ph.D in oceanography from Rutgers.

And she's no stuffy science suit: "She has a nose ring, and her nickname is Iron Lisa," writes Carmon. "In addition to playing oboe, she can rock the bass guitar. And, judging by this photo on her Facebook community page, where you can 'like' her, she used to have pink hair." So take that, Lindsay and Britney. And "Congrats on being awesome, Felisa!" More details at Wolfe-Simon's website here.

A frame grab of the NASA briefing with Felisa Wolfe-Simon.
A frame grab of the NASA briefing with Felisa Wolfe-Simon.   (YouTube)
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A news report on the discovery.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 62 comments
hopeandchange
Dec 8, 2010 9:33 AM CST
hahaa all you woman worshipers?? read this from slate saying all the science behind this discovery is utter crap.. http://www.slate.com/id/2276919/
bewilderbeast
Dec 6, 2010 8:24 AM CST
Yay, science!
myflap.blow
Dec 5, 2010 1:12 PM CST
"Role Model" slant why? to distract from the fact this chick is totally bitchin!? Is John J gay??? If she did her hair purple I'd spontaneously create new life forms in my pants

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