In 2016, a dinner conversation between two researchers with seemingly different fields—one an expert in data science and engineering, the other in economic models—laid the groundwork for a groundbreaking study. Stephen Baek, a data scientist, and Suyong Song, an econometrician, discovered a surprising intersection in their research interests, ultimately leading to an in-depth analysis of the “beauty premium.” This idea suggests that individuals considered more physically attractive tend to earn higher incomes. Their collaboration culminated in a published journal article that sheds new light o…