An Astronaut’s Day

Every morning you get up, wash your face, brush your teeth, eat breakfast and get ready for your day. These daily actions are so common that you don’t think about them much. But what if you were in space? There is no gravity (地心引力) there, so weights are not as heavy as they are on Earth. When you drop something, it doesn’t fall to the floor. It floats (漂浮) slowly away in the air. This means that astronauts can’t just put down a tool. They need to tie it down. And how do astronauts drink? In space, water just breaks into small drops and hangs in the air.

Well, astronauts eat and drink differently in space. They have special plates so that their food doesn’t float away. They use special bags for drinks so that the drink stays inside. Sleep is also different in space. Astronauts tie themselves to the wall so that they don’t float around when they are sleeping. Since they have to work hard, they need to get plenty of rest. The sun rises and sets so often that it can be confusing (令人迷惑的). The astronauts have alarms (闹钟) and sometimes music to wake them up.

Exercise is important for astronauts as well. Since there is no gravity and astronauts float instead of walking or running, their muscles (肌肉) become weak very quickly. They have to exercise on special machines every day so that this doesn’t happen. No one wants to become ill in space and exercise helps them stay healthy.

However, it is not all hard work in space. When they are not doing science experiments, writing reports or exercising, there is a little time for fun. They watch movies, read the news and call family members and friends. The astronauts on the International Space Station can even connect to the Internet.

When the rainstorm is coming, most people choose to leave as quickly as possible and go to a safe place. However, there are a few people who will get into their cars and go straight to the center of the storm. “Storm chasing” is becoming a popular hobby in the Midwest of the United States. There are frequent (经常的) storms from March to July. Storm chasers often drive more than one thousand kilometers to where the storm will be. And then they wait for the storm to come.

Although anyone can do it, storm chasing is not safe. The power (力量) of a big storm can throw a cow into the air. Storm chasers often drive in a heavy rain. So they are also often hurt seriously in accidents. If you are a beginner, it is much safer to join a group of storm-chasing vacations during the storm season.

“Sometimes it can take you hours to wait for something to happen, and all you get is blue sky and a little rain,” says Daniel Lynch, who spends most of his summer storm-chasing. However, for storm chasers, it is all worth (值得) it. “When you get close to a storm, it is the most exciting thing you will ever see in your life,” says Jasper Morley. “Every storm is an example of the power of nature. It is the greatest show on Earth.”

You’re in the shower when a brilliant idea comes to you. You just solved that problem that you are trying to solve for months. You think to yourself: why do my best ideas come to me in the shower? Because it’s the perfect place for creative thinking! A shower meets the 3 “Rs” of creativity: relaxation, repetition, and rest.

A warm shower is relaxing, allowing your mind to wander (漫步). It’s in a small and safe space where you feel comfortable. It is most likely the only time you can get away from the daily stresses of life and be alone during the day. When you relax, your brain releases dopamine (多巴胺)and it helps pass information between neurons (神经细胞).

Research reveals you are more likely to be creative when you are doing something uninteresting and repetitive like exercising or showering. We spend 40% of our time on autopilot (自动运行). Being in the shower is one of those times of the day when your brain are on autopilot.

Research shows when you rest, the network in your brain becomes active. It will make you focus on goal-oriented information and your imagination take wing at the same time.

Relaxation, repetitive tasks, and rest are important things that encourage creative thinking. According to research, the 3 “Rs” is why 72% of people get creative ideas in the shower and it is your creative sweet spot (地点). Creativity often comes when you least expect it.