Good morning! It's Sunday, July 27. Amid summer vacations, we're exploring the fascinating history of roller coasters, from their origins in tsarist Russia to their popularity in China today.
Scroll down to learn why our ears pop, why dams are temporary, and more. Or visit 1440 Topics for primers on Self-Driving Cars, the Professional Golfers' Association, or 200 others.
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Dear Readers—Our Sunday edition delivers deep dives into interesting and relevant topics, helping you explore new ideas and feeding your curiosity.
Instead of the news—which we cover Monday through Saturday—today we’ll bring you deeply researched overviews and the human-curated articles, podcasts, videos, and more that most fascinated us this week. |
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Roller coasters 101
Roller coasters are typically gravity- or inertia-powered trains that “coast” through steep drops, twists, and turns and are designed to offer thrills to amusement park visitors. Nearly 7,000 are currently operable worldwide, with almost a third located in China (see database).
Prototypes emerged as early as the 17th century, and engineers have since made incredible advances in size, speed, mechanics, and safety. The rides are a perennial summer bucket list item, forming the backbone of the $70B global theme park industry.
Roller coasters activate our sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates our fight-or-flight response. Endorphins like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin are released, bringing riders to a euphoric state. Doing so in a safe, regulated setting allows us to enjoy the sensation, similar to what one may experience while watching a horror movie.
... Read our full deep dive on roller coasters here.
Also, check out ...
> America’s first roller coaster was a coal transport turned into a ride. (More)
> The impact of gravitational force surprised early coaster riders. (More)
> The odds of injury on a US roller coaster are one in 15.5 million rides taken. (More) |
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Wellness That Fits Into Your Day |
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Quizzes get a bad rap – and we blame high school history class for that. But some quizzes actually do have a purpose (beyond just stressing you out), and this one from Noom is the perfect example. In as little as five minutes, this questionnaire will help you:
> Identify your health, sleep, stress management, or fitness goals
> Develop a custom playbook to help build & maintain healthy habits
> Create a tailored timeline for reaching your goals
The quiz is just one part of Noom’s science-backed, holistic approach to your health goals. Their program focuses on making behavioral changes to help improve your sleep, nutrition, stress, and more – all while prioritizing sustainable, long-term results. In fact, Noom users report a 45% reduction in overall healthcare costs after 6 months with Noom.* That’s proof in the pudding.
Noom has helped millions of people lead healthier lives. Ready to take a new approach to your health? Take this quiz to get started – 1440 readers can try Noom free for 14 days.
*Based on a 6-month retrospective matched case-control analysis of 723 Noom users and 723 non-Noom members based on Aetna data for a Noom Health Customer.
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Please support our sponsors! |
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Wellness That Fits Into Your Day |
|
Quizzes get a bad rap – and we blame high school history class for that. But some quizzes actually do have a purpose (beyond just stressing you out), and this one from Noom is the perfect example. In as little as five minutes, this questionnaire will help you:
> Identify your health, sleep, stress management, or fitness goals
> Develop a custom playbook to help build & maintain healthy habits
> Create a tailored timeline for reaching your goals
The quiz is just one part of Noom’s science-backed, holistic approach to your health goals. Their program offers nutrition insights, personalized coaching, and GLP-1s (for those who qualify), allowing you to optimize your body’s biology while you work on behavior changes. In fact, Noom users report a 45% reduction in overall healthcare costs after 6 months.* That’s proof in the pudding.
Noom has helped millions of people lead healthier lives. Ready to take a new approach to your health? Take this quiz to get started – 1440 readers can try Noom free for 14 days.
*Based on a 6-month retrospective matched case-control analysis of 723 Noom users and 723 non-Noom members based on Aetna data for a Noom Health Customer.
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Please support our sponsors! |
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What is memory?
Memory is how the brain takes information captured by our senses and turns it into experiences that can be stored and remembered in the future.
Instead of a perfect recording system, the brain selects a subset of sensory data for processing in short-term memory before storing it in long-term memory for future recall. This means remembering creates incomplete reconstructions of knowledge.
Remembering a long-term memory requires a retrieval cue—a stimulus for a neuron within the memory's engram. Once triggered, neurons in the network activate, and the stored sensory details reconstruct the experience in short-term memory.
... Read our full explainer on memory here.
Also, check out ...
>The doorway effect is when people forget their task in a new space. (More)
> Core memories are a popularized version of autobiographical memories. (More)
> Photographic memory isn’t real, but other rare memory types do exist. (More) |
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The origins of pro wrestling
Professional wrestling is a story-driven form of wrestling that entertains audiences through precise techniques, demanding athleticism, and theatrical melodrama.
Professional wrestling matches are scripted, or, to use the industry’s term, “worked.” Despite that fact, performers are expected to maintain the illusion of the fictional narrative—or “kayfabe”—by remaining in character. (View a guide to the language of professional wrestling here.)
It’s common knowledge that professional wrestling is scripted, yet wrestling fans keep watching. Similar to people who attend the opera, they suspend their disbelief to enjoy the performances.
... Read our full overview on pro wrestling here.
Also, check out...
> An oral history of the inaugural WrestleMania. (More)
> Why one French philosopher loved pro wrestling. (More)
> How meta-narratives drive pro wrestling. (More) |
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You read that right – Noom, the leader in sustainable health management, helped Noomer Steve H lose almost 200 pounds*. “I found my why. My health, my future, and my family … are my daily motivation.”
And guess what? Steve is far from alone. Millions of people have used Noom to lose weight, keep it off, and improve their overall health thanks to new additions like Noom’s Healthy Aging & Metabolism Course*. Whether you’re looking to feel better, hit your goals, or simply need that little oomph that comes from custom plans and coaching, Noom has you covered. Claim your FREE 14-day trial right here. |
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Hey readers! If you tried to visit our partner SylvanSport's website (coolest campers ever!) on July 13 and could not, we apologize and wanted to let you know that their site is back up and running. Click here. Thanks!
—1440 Team |
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Have you checked out our lineup of weekly 1440 Topics newsletters? You can sign up for any (or all) that pique your interest, always 100% free. Here's what's on deck this week:
Science & Technology: This Tuesday, we're investigating the paradigm-shifting theory of quantum mechanics (sign up here).
Business & Finance: Thursday, we'll explore the rationale behind and the success of hedge funds (sign up here).
Society & Culture: Saturday, we dive into the fascinating history of vacationing and its role in work-life balance (sign up here).
Daily Digest: Our original newsletter focuses on what is happening in the world each day, Monday-Saturday. Join more than 4.5 million other intellectually curious readers—click here to join for free! |
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Historybook: First successful underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe completed (1866); Cartoon character "Bugs Bunny" makes his official debut in "A Wild Hare" (1940); Korean War ends with armistice (1953); American actress Maya Rudolph born (1972); Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, dies (1980) |
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"Life’s a roller coaster you don’t always get to choose the seat you’re in, but you can choose to throw your hands up and enjoy the ride." |
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*Disclosure: Real Noom user(s) compensated to provide their story. In 4 weeks the typical Noom user can expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Noom results involve maintaining a healthy diet and exercise changes. Individual results may vary.
Age & Metabolism Coursepack: Additional charges apply. |
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