Matilda's Lab Newsletter #80
This week we find the sun! We also have quantum gravity (maybe), the sting of betraying your better judgment, why failure is good, energy from waste, and how prediction tames impulsivity.
What we’ve been up to
We’ve just had a half-term break. Well, the kids have just had a half-term break, but Cat and I took some time off work to have some fun with them. Now that we’ve had our first decent spell of sun this year, we’ve been able to start doing things in the garden. Nathaniel helped us to put up our greenhouse, ready for growing seeds.
The highlight of our time off together was a visit to Viking mini-golf. Because what could add more fun to mini-golf than some casual, institutionalised piracy?
That said, this course is great fun. There are two rafts that take you through different parts of the course. I say raft, it’s a platform on rails that you move by pulling on a rope pulley system, but the rail is underwater and the raft is dressed up like a Viking longship: I’m a massive fan. I’m even more impressed that Matilda managed to haul the second raft across, which had all 4 of us on it, singlehandedly. Clearly, all those family gym trips are paying off!
Nathaniel had his own moments too. The 18th hole was on 2 levels. You could either use multiple strokes to take your ball up a ramp, or hit the ball though a candy cane shaped tunnel to get it up to the second level. To successfully get the ball through here requires a rather hefty thump. A heft that does not come easily for a 4-year-old. Mercifully, the course was quiet, because Nathaniel was adamant that he was going to get the ball through this tunnel. There was visible frustration and statements like “This hole is silly!” and more than one near-miss where he accidentally trod on his repeatedly returning ball and lost balance. I eventually suggested that he kick the ball through the tunnel, and finally we had success. On the way home, I asked everyone what their favourite bit was. For Nathaniel, it was clear, the final hole, of course. At least he enjoyed it. After frustration, the reward is even more sweet.
New Blog content
I’ve managed to write another new lesson! This one was inspired by one of the science news stories that I came across a few weeks ago. I had to show some restraint with this one could it could easily have ended up several times longer than it is.
I’ve finally found time to add to my merch range. If you like biology and the Wind in the Willows, then I have the t-shirt for you!
The map of life continues to grow. I have a backlog of cartilaginous fish illustrations to use, so the most recent addition is the Bow-mouth guitarfish.
From the Archive
Speak of the devil. A recent featured post was one of the these illustrations that are yet to be added to the map: the sand tiger shark.
Science News
I’m going to dive straight in at the deep end here and not in too much detail. If you’re already familiar with the biggest problem in physics, then there is a new theory of quantum gravity. If that made no sense to you, then you may want to skip this. I don’t think I’ve even written a lesson on this yet. That will be one for the list.
Remember all of that in discriminant isolating at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (it’s not over, by the way)? When we’re next faced with a similar threat, smartwatches could be used as early alarms for signs of infection.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That said, there are promising signs that used batteries and aluminium foil residues can be used to convert CO2 into useful methane. Methane may be a worse greenhouse gas than CO2, but when it’s not loose in the atmosphere, it can be used to make energy.
Going against your gut. We blame ourselves more for bad consequences of decisions made against our better judgement. Even if that decision was made collectively with other people, we hold ourselves more responsible.
Do you ever find yourself mulling over what may happen in the coming day ahead? This may be a good thing. Future planning appears to reduce impulsive decision-making and helps us connect our thoughts. So plan on, but don’t lose sleep over it.
Failure. It’s not a nice word. It feels shameful, but evidence suggests that those who have experienced failure often go on to be more successful. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t seem to recognise this and is geared to rewarding those who are failure naive: the ones who haven’t yet learnt from failure.
Kicking back
I found this ages ago but lost the link, now it’s back. Sound on!
There’s always room for chaotic genius
Also applies to science. No one knew about t memory cells when vaccines were first invented.
A reminder that we all experience the world in a slightly different way. I would say that I’m something like a 1 or 2. I’d love to hear from anyone who is a 5. Where do you sit?
Please feel free to get in contact with any questions, suggestions or comments either via Substack or at matildaslab@gmail.com.
Please share this with anyone who you think will appreciate it.
And remember to share with me any cool sciencey stuff that you find, to make sure that I can pack this newsletter with the best new science content each week.
Until next time, treat every day like a school day and find those lessons to learn.