Author: <span>Jay Torres</span>

Astronauts returning from six-month missions describe a persistent ‘observer’ sensation

By Jay Torres

Astronauts coming home from long stays on the International Space Station have, for years, described a strange perceptual aftertaste: a sense of watching their own lives from a half-step outside the frame. They sit at dinner with family and feel like a guest. They drive on a familiar street and feel like they’re piloting it. The room is loud and they are in it, but a part of them is hovering near the ceiling, taking notes.

There is still a lot that we don’t know. About everything. This phenomenon that astronauts report is really fascinating.

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Ken Griffey Jr. at the Masters

By Jay Torres

Ken Griffey Jr. is a pro/amateur photographer. This year he took photos at The Masters.

Bob Martin, managing editor at The Masters, on Griffey being at the tournament:

That’s really distressing that he’s likable. I thought he was going to be a real asshole, but he is quite likable and he’s passionate about photography. So, that’s the overlying factor. The fact that a man wants to do well and wants to take good pictures is the most refreshing part for me.

Ken Griffey Jr. was my favorite baseball player growing up. Watching this documentary reminded me how great he is and made me a bigger fan. And he’s actually a really great photographer.

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The Physics Of GPS | An Interactive Exploration

By Jay Torres

GPS is fundamentally a translation tool: it converts time into distance. A satellite sends a signal, your phone catches it, and the delay between those two events tells the phone exactly how far away the satellite is. Everything else is about making that measurement precise enough to be useful: accounting for bad clocks, satellite geometry, and eventually, Einstein’s theories.

I had an idea of how GPS works, but this explainer visually shows it. Math, physics, and Einstein’s theory of relativity. All in a thing that we use every day and we don’t even think about it.

★

A Year in The Life at MKBHD

By Jay Torres

The Studio and MKBHD recorded a vlog style “Year in The Life” of everything that they did in 2025.

I’ve grown to love more of the behind the scenes style of The Studio channel in general. I think the concept of the channel is genius. You end up having a relationship with all of the people who work at MKBHD.

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When Work and Interests Collide

By Jay Torres

David Sparks aka MacSparky on Apple getting around Masimo’s patent dispute:

I was happy to see the blood oxygen sensor come back to the Apple Watch late last week. After months of being disabled due to a patent fight with Masimo, Apple turned it on again — but only after securing approval for a workaround that cleverly meets legal constraints.

Like David, I love it when my professional world collides with my Apple/tech world. One of the hosts of ATP has been having issues with his two Mitsubishi heat pumps. I made a video where I comment on his account and give my two cents.

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