I'm Trying to Make It Easier for You

The main reason why I chose to chronicle my project in a blog instead of write a paper is that scientists and science students generally the only people who read scientific papers. After reading several dozen for this project alone, I understand why. I usually can only comprehend the introduction and conclusion of the paper, and sometimes parts of the discussion. But the when scientists start detailing their methods, I am completely lost. This annoys the hell out of me.
I don’t like not understanding. As a matter of fact, I hate not understanding something. I always try and find someone who can explain it to me, and I’m usually pretty quick about at least getting the gist. But when I read these papers, I am continually frustrated by my lack of comprehension. But I’m much too stubborn to just skip over the parts I know I won’t understand. I hope that by reading them again and again, one day I’ll understand.
Two of the three articles I’ve read over the past two days have been primarily methods-based. They detail methods for identifying types of tuna and types of shark using different techniques and databases. In the one by M. Barbaruto et al., their experiment showed that approximately 80% of the shark meat labeled as “palombo” is not one of the two species that are legally allowed to be sold under that name. Instead, a cheaper shark meat is substituted. But as in all cases of fish fraud, once the morphological features (fins, scales, etc.) are removed, the creatures are often indistinguishable from one other except by DNA barcoding. A method for sequencing the DNA of smoked fish was detailed in the paper by M. Espiñera et al.
The last article I read was about what motivates consumers to purchase green products. It analyzes the morale motivation and external motivation behind purchasing ecologically-friendly products. Some of the factors involved in a person’s desire to act for the benefit of humanity, not simply for personal reasons. This article said that a well-educated young female is the type of person most likely to buy environmentally friendly products.