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Everyday science

Everyday science

Avoiding strife on Mars, the physics of football, calling all psychic pets

15 Jun 2018 Hamish Johnston

Notes in the fridge, a chores rota and other signs of housemate strife could be things of the past thanks to a new space programme launched by SpareRoom, which is a UK-based flat and house sharing service. SpareRoom has teamed up with former NASA astronaut Terry Virts to help housemates get along. Virts should know how to cooperate in a cramped space because has commanded the International Space Station (ISS).

In his capacity as “House Share Goodwill Ambassador”, Virts gives some top tips in the above video.

Speaking of the World Cup

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off this week in Russia and we couldn’t help jumping on the bandwagon by devoting much of our weekly podcast to the beautiful game. Find out what position Niels Bohr played on the football pitch and why “The physics of football” is the most popular article every published in Physics World.

Can physics predict which country will win the World Cup, or perhaps the family pet stands a better chance? If you are keen on the former, see “Prediction of the FIFA World Cup 2018 – A random forest approach with an emphasis on estimated team ability parameters” by physicists in Belgium and Germany. If you would rather put your trust in a hamster, check out Psychic Pets.

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