Renate writes, “As a geologist and in respect to my temperament, I though a volcano tattoo would be just adequate. I got it at a time when tattoos were not as fashionable as they are now. Someone said to me ‘Oh, with such a tattoo you will never get a permanent position.’ But I have a permanent position now, despite the tattoo (actually the second one).”

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Originally published May 15, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.