I’ve been working on my scientific paper, and I’ve spent considerable time adding verbiage and making the big words bigger. In retrospect, trying to look smart has left me feeling quite stupid.

A random YouTube video got me thinking about the world’s most famous equation. No, that’s not actually the whole equation. But, as the layperson’s representation of math, physics, general science, and who knows what else, it’s remarkably brief.

It’s more than just an equation. It’s a symbol.

And, in that regard, look how elegantly simple it is. There are papers and lectures and videos elaborating on it in excruciating detail, and yet the equation itself is concise enough to write legibly with a felt pen on a fingernail.

Long story short, I’m now in the process of editing down my paper to see how short I can make it while still retaining all the necessary information.