I'm in a quiet side room off the main lab space. To my right is a window that fills most of the wall. There's trees outside with tops swaying in the wind, so it's like I'm in a tree house. To my left is a heavy black curtain to help preserve this clean area and block light from the window for the microscopes at the other end of the room. The walls are painted black for microscopy work, but the big window shines a spotlight around me in bright natural light.

A stage for one.

For only a second, you spot a shadowy swishing of wings. Glimpsed in twilight moments, bats are dark ghosts flitting silently past, mysterious creatures full of secrets waiting to be discovered.