The sky is overcast, and outside the trees sway as the gusts of Cape Town wind are picking up. The air-conditioning in this lab is not run by principles of human comfort; rather, the thermostat is adjusted to a temperature that draws a stark distinction between an environment and its occupants.

It is cold. I am cold, although I cool easily. I am waiting in the lab with Chris to write a test in two hours, but such a long time in the short-term feels like we are waiting for nothing at all.