75 weeks ago two things happened:

• NASA finished building the largest rocket ever

• The first Convo Kit was drafted

One of those launched on time, the other is featured below. 😉

-Steve

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Moonshot

“Third time’s a charm” - NASA, probably

First assembled in TCK #1, NASA’s SLS rocket finally launched Wednesday, 11/16/22, on its Artemis 1 mission.

• SLS = Space Launch System

• Part of the Artemis program to land humans on the moon

• Prior launch attempts scrubbed due to safety concerns

Launch-delay jokes aside, safe rockets are the best rockets. Artemis 1 carries 0 humans and 3 “moonikins” to test radiation protection. It will orbit the moon for 10 days before returning home off the coast of California. Preferably w/moon cheese for st3v.

To da moon

Spinal Zap

EPFL researchers are zapping people's spines. 9 paralyzed patients experienced improved walking ability after receiving epidural electrical stimulation.

• Spinal injuries block the communication “highway” between our brain and legs

• Targeted electric shocks act as backroads to bridge that gap

• Specific neuron response was identified using lab rats

Some patients retained enhanced function post-treatment, suggesting neuron function was changed instead of temporarily boosted. This discovery opens the door for future treatment tailored to specific paralyzed patients' needs.

Shocking

Giant Beast Turtle Enigma

European waters once hosted car-sized turtles. Fossilized remains of Leviathanochelys aenigmatica were recently discovered in Spain.

• L. aenigmatica translates to “giant beast turtle enigma”

• Lived ~70 million years ago

• Body length = ~12 feet

This is the first gargantuan turtle species discovered outside of North America, host to the slightly larger Archelon. Each species evolved to their size separately, implying similar environmental conditions despite geographical distance.

One shell of a Mario Kart power-up

Clickables

• How domesticating moths created sky puppies

• Dung beetles deal with a lot of crap, and also climate change

• Rarely seen giant flying octopus

• Has wings and goes 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds - your personal Dragon 

• Watch sharks do science from their POV

st3v on site

Enigma Shell

Game developers decided against adding a giant beast enigma shell to avoid blocking traffic on Toad's Turnpike.

Thank you for reading!

Missed last week’s Convo?

Catch-up here: Edible Drone | Blood Lab | Pumpachute - The Convo Kit #74

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