Eye on Faith

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Is bigger better?

2020 Starship Launch (Photo by Forest Katsch)

Not always, but when it comes to space transport, it’s good to be well-stacked.

Elon Musk is reportedly “over the moon,” having recently put together the tallest spacecraft in (but perhaps not out of) this world. His SpaceX Starship now reaches approximately 475 feet into the heavens, as it rests upon a Super Heavy rocket.

Bigger in this case will allow for “a whole new class of space missions” by enabling the hauling of scientific instruments.

Resources

https://www.space.com/elon-musk-thrilled-spacex-starship-worlds-tallest-rocket

Friday, August 6, 2021

Smoke is Smoke

Skull with a Burning Cigarette (by Vincent van Gogh)

Whether sitting around a campfire or within a hazy lounge, smoke is smoke. In other words, it literally clouds the air we breathe.

It is therefore not surprising that secondhand marijuana smoke is being linked with some of the same health problems as secondhand tobacco smoke. A recent survey of 1500 regular marijuana smokers or vapers showed that their children experienced increased respiratory difficulties.

A cause-and-effect association has not yet been proven, but is certainly suspected. It seems therefore wise to avoid indoor usage as much as possible.

Resources

https://www.healthbanks.com/PatientPortal/MyPractice.aspx?UAID={3832435F-CB0D-493C-AEB1-E9AF6161A975}&TabID={X}&ArticleID=2654160839

Join the Dance

The Waltz (by Camille Claudel)

Lingering on sidelines is not nearly as joyful as joining the dance. Nor nearly as healthful.

A study was recently conducted with postmenopausal women who danced their way to improved health. After 16 weeks of such frolic, they gained important physical and emotional strength. Their dance sessions took place “three times a week for 90 minutes” apiece.

Sure beats forcing oneself into a distasteful regimen. When exercise is fun, it will more likely continue.

Research

https://www.healthbanks.com/PatientPortal/MyPractice.aspx?UAID={3832435F-CB0D-493C-AEB1-E9AF6161A975}&TabID={X}&ArticleID=2653982274

Cash Hardly Carries

Dig in, but not too deeply! (Photo by Avij)

The greed for money, and not money itself, can be a root of evil. Handling cash was shown to be at low risk when it comes to carrying COVID.

Researchers from Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum found that it took a mere “three days” for that virus to “disappear completely from a 10-euro banknote.” It lingered on coins a bit longer, but quickly dissipated from ones containing copper.

Even when the virus was still present, it could not easily infect humans from cash surfaces. These findings are “consistent with previous research” that showed “airborne transmission” to be the main culprit.

So grasping cash, in and of itself, is probably not dangerous. Just don’t cling to the feel of it all.

Resources

https://www.healthbanks.com/PatientPortal/MyPractice.aspx?UAID={3832435F-CB0D-493C-AEB1-E9AF6161A975}&TabID={X}&ArticleID=2654240093

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Dunk This

(Photo by Evan-Amos)

Not all dunks takes place within basketball hoops. Some occur within glasses of milk, especially when Oreos are involved.

But the world’s biggest Oreo just won’t fit on your average kitchen table. It weighs 175 pounds and is good for two main things: breaking Guinness Book records, and celebrating a grandmother’s 95^th birthday in style.

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/08/05/Guinness-World-Records-biggest-Oreo-Ross-Smith-grandma/2621628187842/

Weighty Accomplishments

(Photo by George Stepanek)

Edith Murway-Traina lifts weights. So do many others. But not when they’re almost 100 years old.

Murway-Traina will become a centenarian this week. This may have slowed her down some, but not enough to forego lifting “40-150 pounds at her competitions.”

This hardy gal didn’t even begin such feats until age 91. Before that, she focused upon lifting her feet with joyous dance moves.

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/08/05/Guinness-World-Records-oldest-powerlifter-Edith-Murway-Traina/8991628181110/

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Thirst Quencher

Double, double, toil and trouble... (Painting by James Henry Nixon)

Water not only quenches our physical thirst, but might soon also quench our emotional thirst for shiny golden displays.

Like something out of a scene from Macbeth, scientists have recently transmuted purified water into metal. For a brief moment, zooming particles turned a colorless liquid into a “bright yellow” film that conducted electricity.

Chemists accomplished all this without resorting to slanderous depictions and ingredients. Kudos to modern-day science!

Resources

https://www.livescience.com/water-into-metal-experiment.html