Extraterrestrial espressos, quantum card-games, misunderstood science and more

Mmm…ISSpresso in space. (Courtesy: Lavazza)

 By Tushna Commissariat

Most of us can’t get our day started without a fortifying cup of coffee and astronauts are just the same. To help those on the International Space Station meet their caffeine cravings, Italian coffee king Lavazza has designed and built an espresso machine that will work in space! Called “ISSpresso” the machine will be blasted off into space in the possession of astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who will also be the first Italian woman in space. You can read all about the ISSpresso and its supreme blends on the Wired website.

In other news, this week we also found out that quantum entanglement could help you win a game of bridge. A team of researchers from Sweden, Switzerland, Poland and the UK has shown experimentally how partners can use quantum communication to improve their odds at bridge – a card game in which exchanging information is necessary, but forbidden – much like in entanglement. You can find out more about how to win your next game in Wired writer Adam Mann’s article here.

Most people who are science-savvy will have come across a scientific term or idea being appropriated and often misused in the larger scheme of things – from adverts about using quantum something-or-other for a spiritual purpose to “organic” foods. Now, io9 writer Annalee Newitz has put together a list of the 10 most commonly misappropriated scientific terms (yes, “quantum weirdness” is number 3). Find out what made her list here.

And in other weekend reading, take a look at what Pluto’s moon Charon may be harbouring and find out how museums seem to be avoiding the controversial subject of climate change.