World’s tiniest satellite headed for interstellar missions. Breakthrough Starshot, a $100 million program to launch robotic interstellar missions, has sent into orbit the smallest-ever satellites. The six prototypes, dubbed Sprites, weigh only 4 grams and contain solar panels, computers, sensors, and radios on a surface equal to that of a U.S. postage stamp. The Breakthrough Starshot mission aims to show that Sprites could one day become light-propelled spacecraft that would fly at 20% of light speed and reach Alpha Centauri, our nearest star system, in just over 20 years.
Ultracold molecules for quantum computing. Collections of ultracold molecules can retain the information stored in them, for hundreds of times longer than researchers have previously achieved in these materials. These two-atom molecules are made of sodium and potassium and were cooled to temperatures just a few ten-millionths of a degree above absolute zero. Using an array of perhaps 1,000 such molecules, researchers say, would make it possible to carry out calculations so complex that no existing computer could even begin to check the possibilities.
Video games may help on a stressful day. During the break, participants of a recent study either played a casual video game called Sushi Cat, participated in a guided relaxation activity, or sat quietly in the testing room without using a phone or computer. At various times throughout the experiment, the researchers measured participants' affect (e.g., stress level, mood) and cognitive performance.
Those who took a silent rest break reported that they felt less engaged with work and experienced worry as a result, whereas those who participated in the guided relaxation activity saw reductions in negative affect and distress. Only the video game players reported that they felt better after taking the break.
Should you pee on a jelly fish sting? Thousands of people get stung by various species of jelly fish while swimming in open water. Recent research shows that the best first aid for some of the most common types is to rinse with vinegar to remove tentacles, and then immerse in 45°C (113°F) hot water (or apply a heat pack) for 40 minutes. The results mirror a recent NUI Galway and University of Hawaii study on stings from the Portuguese man o war and previous work on box jellyfish stings.
Sex of sleep? Fruit flies know. Choosing between sex or sleep presents a behavioral quandary for many species, including the fruit fly. Researchers found that sleep-deprived males showed little interest in courtship while a lack of shut-eye had no effect on the mating behavior of females. Sexually aroused males got little sleep, while aroused females slept more. Researchers suggest that humans might have similar patterns.
