[whall6]

Trying to figure out how to be cool by going as far as to write an academic paper is decidedly uncool

[apt-apt-apt-apt]

Scientifically analyzing a phenomenon to break down its underlying principles and optimize it is a sign of capability, the one attribute found to be equally cool and good. And can be quite cool in some contexts.

[zeroCalories]

Just as the blind will never understand color, the nerd will never understand cool.

[whall6]

Well put

[SethMurphy]

I think the term for this would be "poser", the not cool sub segment of the cool kids.

[sitkack]

That doesn't make the scientists posers unless they are pretending to be something they aren't. Poser has a specific meaning.

[RankingMember]

This is 100% something Martin Prince or Professor Frink (or both) would study

[more_corn]

They’re not trying to be cool. They’re trying to be scientific.