This Week in Science: Hobbits, Mayonnaise, and Happy Drunks

It’s time for “Nerd News,” covering the most important news for your brain.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week in science . . .

1.  In space news:  The two astronauts Boeing sent to the Space Station might be stuck up there until next year . . . a study found terraforming Mars and giving it a thicker atmosphere might be easier than we thought . . . and the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, so look out for shooting stars.

2.  In physics:  The secret ingredient for nuclear fusion and limitless energy might be . . . mayonnaise?  It behaves like plasma under certain conditions, and it’s a lot easier to work with.  Scientists are using it as a stand-in to better understand the precise physics of plasma.

3.  In geology:  A controversial study found Earth might only have six continents, not seven.  It claims the tectonic plates under North America and Europe haven’t fully broken apart yet, and might still be one super-continent.

4.  In booze news:  A study looked at why alcohol tends to make us feel happier in social settings than when we’re drinking alone.  Socializing with other people creates more of the feel-good hormone dopamine, which amplifies the euphoric effects of alcohol.

5.  In cat news:  A study found cats might experience grief and go into a state of mourning when a person or animal they’re close to passes away.

6.  In kitchen news:  A study found microwaves have their own microbiome.  They zap and kill normal bacteria.  But they’re loaded with “extremophiles,” or bacteria that can survive and thrive in harsh environments.

7.  In J.R.R. Tolkien news:  We found fossils of tiny hobbit-like humans that lived 700,000 years ago on the islands around Indonesia.  They only stood about three-and-a-half feet tall.

8.  And in “Yeah, you look like a Kevin” news:  A study found our faces might shift over time to fit the name we were given at birth.  (???)  It’s a phenomenon called “face-name congruence.”

They’re not sure why, but people were able to guess strangers’ names more accurately than if they were just doing it by chance.  But it didn’t happen with kids’ faces, so they think our features evolve to align with social stereotypes.