Every kid should have a hobby—just not this one. - Simon Mayo

The school had been designated a "Science Academy" and attracted many sponsors: charities, eminent scientists, and a global oil company. The academy logo proclaimed: Together. Inspired. No one seemed quite sure what it meant.

Ms. Glenacre was, it seemed, approaching her hundredth birthday and had never had a nice thought about anybody in her life.

Maybe the body finds untapped reserves when it needs to; maybe the fear of dying makes it do extraordinary things.