In the labs of her undergraduate program, Mollie Koester discovered more than data—she found a new future. Her experience underscores the power of research to reveal unexpected interests and career paths in science.

Leading geologist Sherwood Lollar and her team discovered the Earth’s oldest water deep within a mine. Initially searching for tiny pockets of trapped water, they instead unearthed a significant reservoir. Upon tasting the ancient water, Lollar found its flavor unsurprisingly plain.