Learn about how radar technology came from a failed attempt to build a death ray; how self-regulation helps you handle intrusive thoughts; and why self-determination theory might explain why the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons is so incredibly popular.

How failing to build a “death ray” led to the invention of radar by Cameron Duke

2.009 Product Engineering Processes: Archimedes. (2019). Mit.edu. https://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/experiments/deathray/10_ArchimedesResult.html
Archaeology and Ground Penetrating Radar. (2019). US Radar. https://usradar.com/gpr-ground-penetrating-radar-applications/archaeology/
Dvorsky, G. (2012, August 20). How Britain’s Failed Attempt to Develop a “Death Ray” Changed the Course of World War II. io9. https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-britains-failed-attempt-to-develop-a-death-ray-chan-5936231
Christensen, B. (2005, October 24). Radar as Death Ray? Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/435-radar-death-ray.html
Archimedes Death Ray | MythBusters. (2020). Discovery. https://go.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/full-episodes/archimedes-death-ray
Clark, J. (2008, September 29). What was Archimedes’ death ray? HowStuffWorks. https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/archimedes-death-ray.htm

Intrusive thoughts by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Guillermo in Miami)

Schmitz, T. W., Correia, M. M., Ferreira, C. S., Prescot, A. P., & Anderson, M. C. (2017). Hippocampal GABA enables inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts. Nature Communications, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00956-z
Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2007). Self-Regulation, Ego Depletion, and Motivation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1(1), 115–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2007.00001.x
DeWall, N. (2014). Self-control: Teaching students about their greatest inner strength. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn/2014/12/self-control
Impulsivity. (2009, September 15). Goodtherapy.org. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/impulse-control-disorders

Self-determination theory may be why everyone is enjoying Animal Crossing so much by Steffie Drucker

Dr. Pete Etchells. (2020, May 29). Why are so many people playing Animal Crossing? BBC Science Focus Magazine; BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/why-are-so-many-people-playing-animal-crossing/
Cherry, K. (2013, September 20). Self-Determination Theory and Motivation. Verywell Mind; Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-determination-theory-2795387
Theory – selfdeterminationtheory.org. (2020). Selfdeterminationtheory.org. https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/

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The Psychology of ‘Animal Crossing,’ How...