The “Spacing Effect” Method of Long Term Learning
Plus, are we close to finding a way to store intermittent green energy?
If you clicked on this I’m betting you value the art of learning, so the first item below is a special treat on how to learn for the long term.
We’ll then get into storing renewable energy, a common problem according to its advocates and detractors, before finishing up with a cheeky historical fact about masks and governments.
Learning Through the Spacing Effect
I’m a sucker for learning methods and still hold that the Feynman Technique is the greatest indicator of true intelligence. But, a new method that found its way into my inbox thanks to the Farnam Street blog is that of the “Spacing Effect.”
Simply put, if you want to learn something for the long term it’s better to create a routine where you study it for short bursts on a consistent basis. Why? Because each time you go back and learn more your brain is forced to recall what you previously studied, and it ends up storing it in a way that’s easier to recall in the future.
Green Energy Batteries
The more I learn about green energy the more I keep seeing the same problem mentioned. Creating the energy is one step, it’s storing and transporting the energy that’s the problem. Flow batteries, however, might be the answer we need.
These “liquid batteries” store energy and have the potential to do so for long periods of time. They outperform other popular battery types while avoiding the need for expensive materials. According to the developers, flow batteries could solve some of the problems brought forth by intermittent green energy sources.
Masks and the Government
Nope, not those masks, and not that government. I’m currently reading The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, a book chronicling Winston Churchill’s time as England’s Prime Minister during WWII.
In 1939, after England officially declared war on Nazi Germany, the English government prepared for the impending bombing by sending 35 million gas masks to its citizens. They also added a special paint coating to mailboxes that changed color in the presence of poison gas.
