The Curies called radium and polonium their \”enfants.\” Nietzsche coddled his Zarathustra as \”my son.\” Relativity is known as \”Einstein\’s brainchild.\” What nestles in this parental metaphor? Sometimes a whole career. Not long ago, a retiring colleague sighed, stared at her empty hands, and told me she had forgone parenting to devote herself to scholarship. […] … learn more→