Space Station Astronauts Solve The Mystery Of A Missing Tomato

Space station astronauts solve the mystery of a missing tomato

It's gotta be hard to lose something when you're swirling around the Earth on the International Space Station — right? Well, apparently not. A missing tomato sparked a lighthearted mystery for the astronauts on board the ISS – and it's finally been solved after months of accusations and intrigue.

Willis ‘blue scuti’ Gibson achieved something previously thought impossible—he reached the classic video game's mythical kill screen.

via A 13-year-old wunderkind is the first human to 'beat' Tetris

The first known online transaction took place in 1971 when students at Stanford University used the ARPANET (a precursor to the internet) to arrange the sale of a small amount of marijuana. The transaction was between students in the artificial intelligence lab at Stanford and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). However, it doesn't technically qualify as a transaction because no money was exchanged online; the network was solely used to coordinate a meeting place. So, what was the first thing ever sold online?

Dr. James Grime talking about the Shannon Number and other chess stuff.

The Shannon number, named after information theorist Claude Shannon, is an estimation of the game-tree complexity of chess. It represents a lower bound on the game-tree complexity, which is the number of possible positions in the game tree of chess.

By the time I get into bed, I find myself picking up my phone and just scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. I stay up past my bedtime, despite being exhausted and knowing I'd be better off going to sleep. This behavior is called "revenge bedtime procrastination."

(via How to stop revenge bedtime procrastination and get better sleep)

"Revenge bedtime procrastination" refers to a phenomenon where individuals, who feel that they lack control over their daytime activities, intentionally delay going to bed as a way to reclaim a sense of freedom and leisure during the late evening or early morning hours. This behavior often involves staying up late to engage in activities such as watching TV, browsing the internet, playing video games, or using social media.

The term "NASA nap" refers to a specific approach to napping that involves combining a short nap with the consumption of caffeine, often in the form of coffee. This method is sometimes associated with NASA, the United States space agency, and is thought to be used by astronauts to optimize alertness and performance during space missions. While the exact origins of the term are not well-documented, the idea behind the NASA nap aligns with research on the benefits of both napping and caffeine.

Here's how the NASA nap is typically done:

Drink a Cup of Coffee Quickly: Consume a caffeinated beverage, such as coffee, relatively quickly. The goal is to finish the drink within a short timeframe to allow for the caffeine to start taking effect.

Immediately Take a Short Nap: Lie down for a brief nap immediately after consuming the caffeine. The recommended nap duration is usually around 10 minutes. This short nap is intended to prevent the individual from entering deep sleep, minimizing the risk of experiencing sleep inertia (grogginess upon waking).

Wake Up and Experience the Combined Benefits: After the short nap, the individual wakes up to experience the combined benefits of the caffeine and the brief period of rest. The caffeine's stimulating effects kick in just as the person wakes up, providing a dual boost in alertness and performance.

The idea behind the NASA nap is based on the fact that it takes some time for caffeine to have its full effect on the body. By strategically timing the short nap to coincide with the onset of caffeine's effects, individuals aim to maximize the benefits of both the nap and the stimulant.

While some studies suggest that combining caffeine with a short nap can enhance alertness and cognitive performance, individual responses to caffeine can vary. Additionally, the effectiveness of this approach may depend on factors such as the timing of the nap, the individual's sensitivity to caffeine, and overall sleep habits.

It's important to note that the term "NASA nap" may be more colloquial, and there's no definitive evidence that NASA officially endorses or uses this specific approach. However, the concept aligns with broader research on strategic napping and the benefits of caffeine in improving alertness and performance.