When Sheldon learns the guys tampered with his expedition data he got from the arctic, he leaves to Texas in disgrace. This results in the guys following him, which threatens Leonard's hope for some romantic time with Penny and the guys' friendship with Sheldon.
Raj is worried people won’t take him seriously in his own field after publishing a paper that suggests he may have discovered alien life. Also, Leonard wants to be the principal investigator on a plasma physics study.
The concept of what it would mean for women everywhere if Amy were to win a Nobel Prize causes Amy to have a meltdown. Also, Howard and Raj try to relive the good old days after Howard buys a scooter that looks like the one he had years ago.
When competitors Pemberton and Campbell charm America on a publicity tour, Sheldon and Amy try to bring Nobel laureates Kip Thorne, George Smoot and Frances Arnold to their side. Also, Halley's fear of the dark causes opportunity and conflict at the Wolowitz home.
When Penny and Bernadette go to San Diego for a pharmaceutical sales convention, Wolowitz is in charge of the kids. Also, Sheldon finds a book on experimenting on kids, and the guys plus Amy make a day of it.
Penny tries to seduce an abstaining Leonard to ruin his "donation" for her ex-boyfriend, Zack, and his wife, Marissa. Also, Wolowitz, Bernadette, Anu and Koothrappali turn Koothrappali's canceled bachelor party into a couple's trip.
Sheldon is thrilled to help Bernadette and Wolowitz navigate bureaucratic paperwork, until he discovers they are breaking the law. Also, Leonard is disappointed when his friends exclude him from a scientific project.
Sheldon and Amy are thrilled when their super asymmetry theory is proven by two physicists, until they try to kick Amy off the Nobel nomination. Also, Bernadette gets one of her drugs approved at work and wants a reluctant Penny to head the sales team.
Penny runs into her ex-boyfriend, Zack, who invites her and Leonard to a dinner to meet his newlywed wife. After the dinner the newlywed couple make an odd proposition to Leonard, which makes Penny to freak out. Also, Raj attempts to mend things with his ex-fiancée, Anu.
Penny and Leonard organize a paintball game that results in mayhem when Sheldon is jealous of Amy. Also, Raj catches Anu with her ex-boyfriend, and Stuart gets cold feet when Denise hints at the possibility of them living together.