The birth of a solar system (and a young scientist)
For the second time (ever) the birth of a solar system has been visualized – and the lead scientist for the project is a graduate student…
What an incredible photograph of this nascent star and it’s protoplanet WISPIT2b, 437 light years from earth. It’s worth sitting with this image for a minute to “right-size” what it means to be one of 8,283,368,818 people on our planet (as of the time I am writing this).
“Often there is a lot of self-doubt for people at my career stage,” she says. “I hope this discovery helps others to realize that while they might not know it all yet, they still know enough to do big things.”
Chloe Lawlor
Better than counting sheep
If you find yourself tossing and turning as “to dos” flash through your brain at night, you might want add a “worry window” to your schedule. The technique, as described here, is based on stimulus control training.
There are three simple steps:
- Schedule a deliberate, but short (10-15 minute) time to “worry” in the late afternoon or evening. Set a timer.
- Make a list of what is occupying your attention (i.e. causing you to worry)
- For each thing on the list, decide on a small action you will take the next day.
According to the authors, this technique may not work at first, but stick with it – after 2 weeks you should see a difference. If worries pop up as you start to doze off, they suggest using the same response every time – “I have a plan. It’s in the notebook. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
How to be a Dinner Fairy
Something I do when I’m making plans with friends who have little kids… I pre-order Door Dash to their place for it to arrive after bath- and bed- time. This way, my friends don’t have to deal with the hassle, expense, and chaos that comes with hiring a sitter, plus free dinner! I get to see their kids for a bit, and we can all have adult-time. Yes, it’s very empty-nester-fairy of me, and I love doing it.
Maria Semple
Credit where credit is due! The quote and drawing are from this week’s post by Jenny Rosenstrach’s on her Substack, Dinner: A Love Story