Robert DelRossi

Tech/Ops executive; foodie; data science nerd, history buff; music lover, though alas not a musician; serious Red Sox fan.

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Most of us are terrible at really understanding large values, numbers so big they're effectively meaningless. And yet, we encounter these big values all the time. Fortunately, there are simple techniques to make them far easier to grasp. https://t.co/eB0uqDRhn2

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

You might have a vague sense that you've heard of people eating dirt before. But you’ll likely be surprised to learn that geophagy is found in almost every country of the world. https://t.co/SWstS93P59

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Astronomers find erythrulose, the sugar found in raspberries, in clouds of interstellar dust near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. https://t.co/x5DFitADpd

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

The average American “Ethel” is nearly 81 years old. The average “Seymour” is about that, too. But the oldest name right now? That would be “Myrtle,” with 31% well into their 80s.

Interesting, fun research—and you can check on your own name, too. https://t.co/HckmOtsm0b

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

A counterfeiter seems unlikely to be easily forgiven, let alone earn public support. But a frail, old immigrant in a small NYC apartment did just that, and became a bit of a celebrity, too. https://t.co/eBSeBGJnVc

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

21st-cen­tu­ry cof­fee afi­ciona­dos may have Zen-like patience for slow pour-overs. But 100 years ago, the goal was a qual­i­ty prod­uct you could enjoy with­out break­ing stride. The Steam Age made espresso possible. https://t.co/QILJJ7XoFO

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Sun, Moon, Tiw, Woden, Thor, Frigg, and Saturn: the long-lost gods behind our weekday names. But how did the ancients decide their order? With astrology, of course. https://t.co/O185axf2dd

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

“The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman,” a 19th century prodigy once remarked. “The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.” 150 years later, that sentiment persists among some elite players. https://t.co/CnU2wkHEgZ

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Love A Rainy Night: The sound of rain shakes some seeds out of a dormant state, making them germinate faster than seeds not exposed to the same sounds. https://t.co/rzX2Znh4Ox

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Multiple senses are in play when we talk with someone. What you hear matters, but so too, what you see. But for a rare few people, the senses in play can be uncommon combinations. They’re synaesthetes, who can sometimes hear color or even taste words. https://t.co/vRpEa7FBx8

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Oddly compelling, a self-described “neurotic collector,” went room by room, drawer by drawer, to photograph, index, and classify her entire house. https://t.co/WocrPExUAP

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Early drones: During World War I, pigeons were outfitted with tiny cameras and released over enemy territory. As the birds flew, the cameras clicked away. Part of an interesting online exhibition at the International Spy Museum. https://t.co/cauaNOx3f1

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Imagine being trapped between enemies on one side and a swamp thick with crocodiles on the other. Sounds like a horror movie. But it happened in February 1945, and the results were predictably terrifying. https://t.co/VDRpHFxnqy

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Over time, deep reading trains our brains for complex thought. What it means for us as a society if we opt out of exercising those skills is up for debate. Science is clear, however, that for individuals, how you get your information matters. https://t.co/Wznl2FwqIc

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Before cheap, reliable alarm clocks we humans relied on inventive ways to get to work on time, from knocker-uppers, to clever candles that told the time, and more. https://t.co/XFJEqkjyXU

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

A platypus was an oddity 200 years ago. They look like beavers but have duck bills, they’re mammals that lay eggs, and they produce milk without nipples. And modern science is delivering even more surprises about them. https://t.co/usQdhHNIZh #nature

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

While many messaging apps are tightening their security belts, Instagram is going the other way, eliminating end-to-end encryption with no explanation why. Once done, Meta will be able to access your messages and analyze private conversations. https://t.co/3GPtdzHGbL

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

From 1905 to 1915, the United States entered a golden age of postcards. That coincided with a time when “tall-tale” art also reached its peak—and one of the most popular genres was agricultural goods of fantastic dimensions. https://t.co/87ejtgCaOO

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

The same person who can’t get through a novel can watch a 3-hour video essay on the decline of the Ottoman Empire. That’s not inferior cognition. It’s different cognition. And the difference isn’t the screen, but the environment. https://t.co/00yvBepUAt

[Robert DelRossi @rdelrossi]

Do “impossible” colors like reddish green or yellowish blue exist? They may, but we can’t see them because of the way our eyes work. Still, some hacks may make them visible to us, if only momentarily. https://t.co/VQplQ42sDd