Pens: Why are They? and What can we do to help?

The age-old debate: pens or pencils? This question has remained unsolvable since the dawn of time; many cite the versatility and low cost of the pencil as the superior writing implement while others prefer the more professional and permanent mark of a pristine gel pen. One of the main differences between these writing utensils is how they achieve their purpose. A pen is able to function because gravity pulls the ink down into the tip of the pen as you write; this poses an interesting problem to astronauts, who operate in a zero-gravity environment. Now, pens exist that can write upside-down, in zero-gravity environments, and underwater.