Getting in a good nap isn’t rocket science — or maybe it is. Using data from long-haul space crews, NASA researchers found that those who napped for around 26 minutes showed improved alertness and performance compared to those who didn’t. That may sound quite short, but there’s science backing up the so-called “NASA nap.” Cassie Hilditch, with NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory, explained to Good Housekeeping that with a brief afternoon snooze, “you are less likely to go into the deeper stages of sleep, what we call slow-wave sleep, and you are more likely to stay in the lighter stages.” That means waking up refreshed, rather than groggy. Learn more about the benefits of a NASA nap.
Must Reads
Microsoft created a quantum computing chip — and it’s based on what the tech giant says is an entirely new state of matter
This children’s book is a “love letter” to one of America’s greatest storytellers
Environment
Say Hello to the “Wooly Devil,” the New Sunflower on the Block
Photo courtesy of Big Bend National Park
Just ahead of spring, a new-to-science sunflower is making a name for itself: Meet the “wooly devil” (aka Ovicula biradiata), a small, fuzzy sunflower found in Texas’ Big Bend National Park. Thanks to an eagle-eyed park volunteer, it’s the first new plant genus and species discovered in a U.S. national park in nearly five decades. The wooly devil may not look like it would be a relative of the beloved yellow sunburst flowers painted by Van Gogh, but after sequencing the DNA and comparing it with other specimens, botanists found that it indeed falls under the sunflower umbrella — though it is unique. “[The wooly devil] is not only a new species within the sunflower group, but it is also distinct enough from its closest relatives to warrant an entirely new genus,” Isaac Lichter Marck, co-author of a new study on the finding, explained in a statement. He added the quirky flower may unfortunately be “on its way out,” as the plant has been observed in just three narrow locations across the park’s northernmost corner and highly specialized plants face an elevated risk of extinction. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to learn about it while it’s still here — park visitors are encouraged to aid this effort by keeping an eye out for wooly devils and uploading any observations to iNaturalist.
Apple just added Starlink satellite support to some iPhones through iOS 18.3. One of the biggest potential winners of the update? Mode Mobile. The company’s EarnPhone already reaches over 45 million users who have earned more than $325 million, and that’s before global satellite coverage. With SpaceX eliminating “dead zones” worldwide, Mode’s earning technology can now reach billions more in rural populations worldwide. The global expansion is perfectly timed, and with 32,481% revenue growth, Mode is gearing up for a possible Nasdaq listing (ticker: $MODE).
Archaeologists Unearthed the Long-Lost Tomb of King Thutmose II in Egypt
DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images
Sunday marked 102 years since the landmark discovery of King Tutankhamun’s solid gold coffin and mummified remains. And this week, Egyptian officials announced that archaeologists unearthed the last of the lost tombs belonging to the kings of ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty. The feat, following years of meticulous work, is the first royal tomb finding since King Tut. A joint Egyptian-British archaeological team foundthe final resting place of the elusive King Thutmose II. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the breakthrough is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent years, per a statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The tomb (previously known as No. C4) was found at a site west of Luxor, and early evidence indicated that it might belong to a royal wife due to its simplicity. But as the team conducted excavations of the site’s entrance and main passage, they saw that the tomb told a different story. Evidence showed that it not only belonged to King Thutmose II, but that the burial arrangements were also likely carried out by his wife and half sister, Queen Hatshepsut. Although King Thutmose II’s tomb was found in poor condition due to flooding, the team was able to recover fallen fragments, including pieces of jars featuring inscriptions of his name. See inside the long-lost burial site.
Science
Singing Is a Valuable Tool for Kids, Research Finds
Highwaystarz-Photography/ iStock
Few things are more darling than listening to a kiddo belt out their favorite song. But cuteness aside, singing is a tool that helps kids navigate the world and use their voices long after the song is over, according to recent research. Doctoral researcher and classical vocalist Analía Capponi-Savolainen explored the singing experiences of dozens of first graders in a culturally diverse school in Finland’s Helsinki region. The guiding question: What does singing mean to the children? More than just a form of performance, she found that singing was a tool for navigating day-to-day life. “Children use singing to create their own spaces of trust and freedom for their personal purposes: to cope with everyday struggles, to create new ways of acting and participating, and to exercise their political voice,” Capponi-Savolainen explained in a press release. Other takeaways include the importance of nurturing relationships formed through singing and honoring private time for “singing for oneself.” In other words, don’t underestimate the value of busting out the karaoke machine or putting on the Frozen soundtrack for the 2,000th time.
In Other News
Every county in Maryland will have a state park after the creation of Wetipquin Creek State Park in Wicomico (read more)
Merilog, the first rapid-acting insulin biosimilar product for diabetes treatment, was approved by the FDA (read more)
NASA has a front-row seat to a light show near a black hole at the center of the Milky Way (read more)
A new jazz program is giving 50 artists over 62 a lifetime achievement award that includes a $100,000 grant (read more)
Gators and other creatures were found in Florida sewers, “like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (read more)
Something We Love
Weleda Skin Food This stuff has saved my dry skin this winter, and I’m planning to use it for the rest of the year as well. I slather it on my face as the final step of my nighttime skin care routine and wake up feeling fresh and moisturized. And I love that the ingredients, like chamomile and calendula extract, are plant-based. – Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor
Author Barbara Kingsolver explored addiction in Appalachia in her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Demon Copperhead. Now, she’s using the royalties to help people in the region she depicts in the story, opening up a home for women in recovery. “I felt like, I am getting a novel from this place, and I’m going to give something back,” she said.
Photo of the Day
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Mindy Kaling was honored this week with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the ceremony was fit for the comedic actor and writer. BJ Novak, her longtime friend and co-star on The Office, gave a heartfelt and characteristically funny speech poking fun at Kaling’s fame. “In addition to being a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, an incredible mother of three, a deep and caring daughter, and friend and mentor to so many, Mindy is also, in her spare time, I assure you, very superficial,” he teased. In her own speech, Kaling lived up to Novak’s description, joking, “I love recognition and this is just incredibly nice.”
Mode Mobile Is Pulling an Uber in the Smartphone Industry
By the time we hear about industry-changing disruptions such as Uber, it’s usually too late, but right now there’s a tech startup making waves behind the scenes. Like Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode Mobile is turning smartphones into the easiest passive income source imaginable. But unlike with Uber, you have a chance to invest in the company at just $0.26/share before any potential IPO.*
