Mindful Monday - January 31st

Good morning, good morning, good morning, and happy Monday... again!

“Every battle is won before it's ever fought.”
— Sun Tzu

Pick your battles wisely, guys. Thanks Sunny.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it doesn't feel as great as you thought it would to be "right"? I know I have. It's wise to picture the outcome of a potential conflict or discussion and imagine how you'll feel should it play out that way. But is it worth winning? Or is there more potential for happiness in the long run by conceding a point and moving on with a knowing smile and grace?

Hmmm... easier said than done sometimes. Still worth trying though.

A new thing in space
What's too fast to be a supernova, too slow to be a pulsar, and blinks irregularly?

Yeah, this had the boffins at Curtin University in Australia confused, too. After much thought and consideration they decided to call it GLEAM-X J162759.5-523504.3 – catchy, right? GLEAM***** is an example of a transient, which is usually a dying star throwing out light or a fast-spinning corpse of an already dead star, however this one doesn’t quite fit the bill for either. What could it be?

Running water
Have you ever wondered where all that rain ends up? A lake? A pond? The ocean? River Runner Global has figured out where rain runs to all over the world. Just click a raindrop on the map and see where it goes…

Helpful kites
Wind power for generating electricity is all well and good (in fact, it’s all the rage in Scotland already) but how about wind-powered cargo ships? 80% of goods traded globally are transported by ship, contributing to 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, so reducing the negative impact is potentially a very big deal. Seawing is a 500-metre sail that will be trialled across the Atlantic Ocean in the hope of reducing emissions. Let there be wind!

And finally…

The Bionic Drummer Boy
After being jolted with 20,000 volts, Jason Barnes lost his right hand and part of his arm, but he was lucky to be alive. A keen musician, Jason thought his musical dreams were over. But with the help of AI, a robotic hand and Gil Weinberg, Jason isn’t only playing piano but is also recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest drummer in the world at 20 hits per second with each stick. Rock on, JB.

Keep an open mind, be curious, and stay special.

Big love,
Luke