This Week in Science: “Holding Your Liquor” and French Fries in Space

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.  A Swiss physicist has a controversial new theory about how the universe is expanding.  He thinks it’s NOT, and the “red shift” we see in far-away galaxies is just a mirage.  His theory is the universe is flat and static, which is what Einstein once believed.  It would also offer explanations for dark matter and dark energy.

2.  In other space news:  A Harvard professor thinks that if aliens make contact, they might reach out to our A.I. instead of us.  And the European Space Agency is working on French fries in space.  They think they’ve figured out a good way for astronauts to fry food up there.

3.  In animal news:  A study found horses used to have toes instead of one big hoof.  They lost them as they evolved over time.

4.  In health news:  A new smart band-aid can detect COVID-19 and other viruses within minutes.

5.  In booze news:  A study found drinking too much might make your muscles shrink faster as you age.  And a study at the University of Chicago found heavy drinkers can’t really “hold their liquor,” as the saying goes.  At least not for very long.

Heavy drinkers took cognitive tests after drinking enough to put them over the legal limit.  And 30 minutes later, they were just as impaired as light drinkers were.

So don’t assume you’re good to drive just because you’re a more “accomplished” drinker than the average person.  If you’re boozin’ this weekend, take an Uber.