Theft Memes

For those unfamiliar with density manipulation in retail settings: osmium is the densest naturally occurring stable element (22.59 g/cm³). A 15 cubic decimeter block would weigh about 339 kg while a PS5 is just 4.5 kg. Replacing the item on the scale with osmium is basically the materials science equivalent of a bank heist. Security probably noticed something was off when the checkout scale registered enough weight to bend spacetime.

The internal monologue of every chemist who's ever "borrowed" lab equipment! That moment when you're using a platinum electrode worth more than your monthly rent, and suddenly you're Gollum from Lord of the Rings... "My precious!" The struggle is real—platinum is currently trading at $950 per ounce, making that little electrode a walking trust fund. Your PI is watching the budget while you're mentally calculating how many ramen dinners that shiny metal stick could fund. The dark side of science nobody talks about: equipment attachment disorder.