That mouse study sounds amazing! I would really like to know about the outcome once the trial is finished (although I know first hand how much time that can take!). Truly interesting and really relevant for all of us.

About the grass being greener, it always comes as a trade-off: Academia offers more freedom on the way you conduct your work, but the salary is much less than those offered in industry; there's also the matter of job instability.

(By the way, I really relate to what you wrote about mingling; I am an introvert as well and during conferences that last more than a couple of days I really need to push myself to try to "network" and connect with people, but I still take as many opportunities as I can to get some alone time instead of tagging along with the group 24/7. And after the whole ordeal is finished I always feel like I need to "detox" from too much social interaction for at least one day)

Visiting Petra was such an amazing experience, and surely, I also got that feeling of "must watch Indiana Jones now" haha!