I've often told people from personal experience that research is like being lost in a desert, parched and desperate for water in the relentless heat. Often times, you'd see what you think is water in the distance but by the time you get there, it is a mirage and you end up with a mouthful of sand. But every once in a while, you arrive at a sparkling oasis, which is heavenly to taste and rejuvenating a stark reminder of being alive.