As a premed student at Washington University in St. Louis, I had to take a difficult class in physics. One day our professor was discussing a particularly complicated concept. A student rudely interrupted to ask Why do we have to learn this stuff?

To save lives. the professor responded quickly and continued the lecture.

A few minutes later, the same student spoke up again. So how does physics save lives? he persisted.

It keeps the ignoramuses out of medical school, replied the professor.