Abandoning science's jet set

There’s a point when you’re mid-air above one of the world’s oceans that you lose all ability for coherent thought. The in-flight entertainment has become boring; the tiny legroom isn’t particularly soporific; the laptop is out of juice and work isn’t an option. All you end up doing is staring at that plane on a floaty 3D globe, watching as you inch ever-closer to your final destination, pondering just how massive your carbon footprint must be.