This fascinating paper by Dai et al demonstrates in a comprehensive way how a simple lab experiment confirms theoretical expectations over critical transitions and early-warning signals. The authors used a yeast population to show how it may shift to extinction at increasing dilution rates. At the same time they were able to demonstrate bistability by identifying the border of the basin of attraction to the extinction state, to measure generic indicators prior to extinction, and measure directly slowing down by perturbation experiments. In short, apply all theory and techniques in the same experiment at once!