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Fidget spinners do work in space, and it's spectacular: See


Cheryl Santa Maria
Digital Reporter

Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 4:25 PM - Fidget spinners.

They're everywhere, including space.

In case you've been living under a rock, here's a brief recap: Fidget spinners are multi-lobed toys with a ball bearing in the centre. They're designed to -- well, spin. They've been around for decades in some shape or form but exploded in popularity in April of this year. While 2017 isn't over yet, early estimates suggest as many as 200 million of the brightly-coloured gadgets have been shipped to toy retailers so far.

Some analysts say the trend is already behind us -- but the spinners still seem to be good for ratings.

Case in point: This recent viral video, featuring NASA and ESA scientists performing space acrobatics alongside a red spinner aboard the International Space Station.

"A fidget spinner in space! How long does it spin? I'm not sure, but it’s a great way to experiment with Newton’s laws of motion!" NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik said in a Twitter post, which has garnered more than 55,000 likes since it was uploaded last week.

The post has sparked some serious discussion online about whether or not the device would spin on an infinite loop in a zero gravity enviromnent:

At any rate, the video makes for some interesting eye (and brain) candy.

Source: NASA

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