World Has Record Hot January Despite Outlook for La Niña Cooling
Last month was the hottest January on record, with global average temperatures climbing 1.75C above pre-industrial levels.
The temperature in January averaged 13.2C (55.8F), according to preliminary data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, a UK-based research institute supported by 35 states. The ECMWF data was published by the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine.
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SpaceX delays launch of private Ax-4 astronauts to ISS to June 11. Here's how to watch it live.
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The biodata receptors documented a 16.2% reduction in stress indicators, while 61% of users said their stress management capabilities improved. Sleep quality also improved for 15% of users. 'Many in the group reported stronger focus during the Weighted Airmen Performance Systems (WAPS) testing — the program that determines promotions for Staff Sergeant (E-5) and Technical Sergeant (E-6),' Lumena stated in study analysis. 'They also cited decreased incidents of road rage and across-the-board improvements in their marital relations, gym workouts, and even their golf scores.' While follow-up studies have not been conducted, the feedback appears to demonstrate how even a small amount of therapeutic attention to the brain and the mental resilience of service members under stress can make a significant difference. Strang, at the Air Force Research Lab, told Military Times in an interview that Mindgym compared favorably to the sensory deprivation float tanks popular for promoting relaxation and stress reduction. 'Float tanks are messy and maintenance is challenging,' Strang said, adding that it was never clear to him if the atmosphere of the tank or the opportunity to take a nap in it made the most difference to his mental state. 'I hopped into Mindgym, and it didn't feel like a waterless float tank to me at all,' he said. 'It felt like a psychedelic experience.' AFRL has plans to study the efficacy of Mindgym in comparison with other mindfulness and relaxation technologies, though those are predicated on future funding awards. Strang emphasized that Mindgym is not a panacea for mental health or resilience but said boosting cognition and reducing stress, particularly in a 'next frontier' warfare environment where troops are joining a real fight from their desks as drone pilots or Space Force satellite operators, was worth the dedicated investment. 'They're $100,000 cubes, I think, the last time I checked,' Strang said. 'Let's say they facilitate relaxation and recovery across 100 people by 10%; what's the operational impact of that? I don't know. But what happens if one person who is flying an F-35 sits in that cockpit and, because of these interventions, prevents a mishap of a $60 million aircraft? Would that be worth it? Probably.' As the Air Force continues to install Mindgyms, the company has recently had more conversations with Navy officials, even demonstrating the Mindgym at the Sea Air Space naval trade show earlier this year. Murphy said he saw value for the technology particularly in the submarine community, where stress and operational tempo were high. There are now 32 different sessions a service member can select in Mindgym; a grant last year enabled the recent development and deployment of a stroboscopic light therapy protocol that is supposed to promote higher theta brain wave state, enabling reduced stress in high-intensity situations. 'I'd honestly love to have [a Mindgym] on every military base on the globe,' Murphy said, 'so that there's not a service member that doesn't have access to something like this.'
