A tattoo worn by many working in a science profession. It depicts a snake circling the waist, with the navel between the head and tail, keeping them separate. It's derived from the ancient Ouroboros. As a mythical symbol, the Ouroboros is usually shown eating its own tail. As a symbol of science, the snake, cannot bite its tail, it's blocked by the navel. Our lifeline in the womb represents science, blocking the mouth from eating the tail represents science defeating superstition and fear. Many combinations of colours are used, often selected randomly. The random selection represents the enigmatic and cryptic nature of science. The colours themselves represent scientific discovery and achievement. Colours are sometimes chosen, usually to honour some past accomplishment by a person or organization.