Watch CBS News

Lady Scientists Take Over The Internet With #DistractinglySexy Photos

Female scientists did not take kindly to a Nobel laureate's comments this week about women's capabilities in the lab.

Scientist Tim Hunt said at a conference this week that mixed-gender labs are distracting, as romantic confusions ensue and science is harmed.

One woman in the audience tweeted Hunt's now infamous words, saying he stated, "three things happen when [girls] are in the lab; you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry."

Hunt, a biochemist who shared a 2001 Nobel Prize for physiology, apologized and said he meant the comments to be humorous.

But it was too late.

In true feminist form, the most stellar women you've ever heard of began tweeting photos of their #distractinglysexy selves as scientists. Chemists in lab coats, marine biologists holding sharks, engineers in hardhats -- I couldn't help but participate.

Here are a few samples of the most hilarious yet successful Twitter campaign thus far:

And in the end, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes women sexy. I mean, I get it Mr. Hunt. Our strong-headed but lighthearted nature is indeed very attractive, and when coupled with our intelligent, determined, scientific ventures it's certainly enough to distract even a Nobel Prize recipient.

CBS4 social media and website producer Heather Sadusky writes about trending topics on social media and across the Internet on her What's Trending Blog. Share a story idea with Heather by clicking here.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.