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Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why do astronauts take soft toys to space? Shubhanshu Shukla carries swan 'Joy'. A look at their companions from past missions
During a live broadcast from space, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla introduced 'Joy,' a soft swan toy floating beside him aboard the ISS. Serving as a Zero-G indicator, the swan also holds deep cultural symbolism. Shukla's gesture joins a long tradition of astronauts bringing symbolic or whimsical toys into orbit, blending science, education, and emotional connection. As soft toy swan 'Joy' floated towards astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during alive stream from space, it joined the long legacy of Zero-G soft toy indicators. From Olaf, to Red from Angry Birds and Buzz Lightyear from Toys. (Images: X/ ISRO Spaceflight , NASA) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Long Legacy of Floating Companions Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads SpaceX Zero-G indicators, sparkly dinosaur called Tremor and penguin named GuinGuin. (Images: NASA) Not Just Toys, but Symbols When Indian astronaut c greeted the world from space with a namaste and a floating soft toy swan named Joy, it was far more than just a cute interlude. 'It looks really cute, but we have a very important swan in Indian culture,' said Shukla in his live broadcast from the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4 . 'The swan symbolises wisdom. It also has the ability to discern… what needs to be focused on and what does not,' he explained, making it clear that Joy was not merely an ornamental object but a deeply symbolic was officially serving as a Zero-G indicator , a now-iconic tradition aboard spaceflights to demonstrate when the spacecraft enters microgravity . These toys, typically suspended near the crew, begin to float as soon as zero gravity kicks in, offering a visual cue that the spacecraft has entered aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA 's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, Shukla's mission is the fourth under private space company Axiom's banner. But while the mission represents a milestone for private spaceflight and international collaboration, it's the swan that has won hearts on Joy joins a legacy of adorable, meaningful, and sometimes pop-culture-driven soft toys that have soared into the cosmos with astronauts. According to the Copernicus Science Centre, this tradition goes back as far as Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight. The first human in space brought along a small doll, beginning a whimsical yet meaningful ritual that continues 2012, the 'Angry Red Bird' plush from the mobile game Angry Birds was part of a mission to explain physics in space. Olaf from Frozen made it aboard the Soyuz TMA-15M in 2014, courtesy of cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov fulfilling a promise to his Lightyear, the Toy Story astronaut action figure, travelled aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and remained on the ISS for 15 months. And in recent years, SpaceX has taken the tradition mainstream with Zero-G indicators like a plush Baby Yoda, a penguin named GuinGuin, and a sparkly dinosaur called aren't just passengers for show. As NASA's 2004 'Toys in Space' initiative highlighted, these objects serve as engaging tools to demonstrate how motion, gravity, and physics work differently in microgravity. Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa even built a LEGO model of the ISS while aboard it, bringing childhood pastimes into orbit for educational and scientific choice of a swan connects these floating companions to cultural identity and heritage. While Olaf or Baby Yoda draw on global media icons, Joy represents something uniquely Indian—a cultural motif steeped in ancient philosophy and national symbolism.'We all have some symbolism—in Poland, in Hungary, in India,' Shukla said in his broadcast. 'It looks like a coincidence but it's not. It has more meaning.'As astronauts continue to push the boundaries of exploration, their Zero-G companions reflect both scientific curiosity and emotional grounding. In Joy, Shubhanshu Shukla has carried not just a symbol of gravity lost, but of wisdom held close.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Why do astronauts take soft toys to space? Shubhanshu Shukla carries swan 'Joy'. A look at their companions from past missions
As soft toy swan 'Joy' floated towards astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during alive stream from space, it joined the long legacy of Zero-G soft toy indicators. From Olaf, to Red from Angry Birds and Buzz Lightyear from Toys. (Images: X/ ISRO Spaceflight, NASA) When Indian astronaut c greeted the world from space with a namaste and a floating soft toy swan named Joy , it was far more than just a cute interlude. 'It looks really cute, but we have a very important swan in Indian culture,' said Shukla in his live broadcast from the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4. 'The swan symbolises wisdom. It also has the ability to discern… what needs to be focused on and what does not,' he explained, making it clear that Joy was not merely an ornamental object but a deeply symbolic choice. Joy was officially serving as a Zero-G indicator, a now-iconic tradition aboard spaceflights to demonstrate when the spacecraft enters microgravity. These toys, typically suspended near the crew, begin to float as soon as zero gravity kicks in, offering a visual cue that the spacecraft has entered orbit. Launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, Shukla's mission is the fourth under private space company Axiom's banner. But while the mission represents a milestone for private spaceflight and international collaboration, it's the swan that has won hearts on Earth. Shukla's Joy joins a legacy of adorable, meaningful, and sometimes pop-culture-driven soft toys that have soared into the cosmos with astronauts. According to the Copernicus Science Centre, this tradition goes back as far as Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight. The first human in space brought along a small doll, beginning a whimsical yet meaningful ritual that continues today. In 2012, the 'Angry Red Bird' plush from the mobile game Angry Birds was part of a mission to explain physics in space. Olaf from Frozen made it aboard the Soyuz TMA-15M in 2014, courtesy of cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov fulfilling a promise to his daughter. Buzz Lightyear, the Toy Story astronaut action figure, travelled aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and remained on the ISS for 15 months. And in recent years, SpaceX has taken the tradition mainstream with Zero-G indicators like a plush Baby Yoda, a penguin named GuinGuin , and a sparkly dinosaur called Tremor . — airandspace (@airandspace) These aren't just passengers for show. As NASA's 2004 'Toys in Space' initiative highlighted, these objects serve as engaging tools to demonstrate how motion, gravity, and physics work differently in microgravity. Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa even built a LEGO model of the ISS while aboard it, bringing childhood pastimes into orbit for educational and scientific purposes. Shukla's choice of a swan connects these floating companions to cultural identity and heritage. While Olaf or Baby Yoda draw on global media icons, Joy represents something uniquely Indian—a cultural motif steeped in ancient philosophy and national symbolism. 'We all have some symbolism—in Poland, in Hungary, in India,' Shukla said in his broadcast. 'It looks like a coincidence but it's not. It has more meaning.' As astronauts continue to push the boundaries of exploration, their Zero-G companions reflect both scientific curiosity and emotional grounding. In Joy , Shubhanshu Shukla has carried not just a symbol of gravity lost, but of wisdom held close.
Buzz Feed
17-06-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
24 People Who Married For Money Over Love
If you ever wondered what actually happens when you marry for money over love, you're about to find out. Over the years, people on Reddit who purposely married rich — or knew someone who did — opened up about why and what their experience was like, and it gets very, very messy. Here's what they had to say: "My dad's third wife (and kinda my mom) married for the money. It was all about money. Everything was about money and looks. That's all anyone talked about. Now my dads twenty year twenty-year-younger ex-third wife lives with her vapid, emotionally messed-up daughter, who supports her despite having gotten everything when my dad died. She went deeply into debt, expecting more. What a waste of a family. She started dating my dad, like, 10 years before he left my mom. She blames my dad like he was some controlling monster, but she was young and hot. Then, she got rich in real estate. She has zero excuses for the train wreck her life has become." "I have an acquaintance who married this woman who is wild because they were in their mid-30s, and they both sort of settled for each other. He also married her because her dad is a millionaire. They get like $40K a year between them as Christmas gifts. His kids are set for life, but he is miserable." "Not me, but my aunt did. Her husband is a gigantic prick, and she knows it. He is the most uptight man you will ever meet. He constantly hassles her about her weight, and he does this in front of the family; I can't even imagine what he says in private. Last time my parents watched their kids, he flipped out because we had let them play Angry Birds — this was during their summer vacation from school, and we volunteered to watch the kids because my aunt was going through chemo." "When I was 21, I met a woman from a very wealthy family. I had grown up dirt poor, and I had spent the years from 18–21 living by my wits (stealing and scamming). Her parents were worth around $6–10 million, and she was madly, I mean madly, in love with me. I was a narcissist and struggled with addiction. I didn't have anything else to do, so I married her. I didn't know how estranged she was from her parents (and their money). I kept waiting for the cushy job with Dad's company, the free house, the big payouts. They didn't come. We got some stuff: a couple of cars, a few trips to other countries, nice presents, but no big payout. Eventually, we had a kid, and the kid was spoiled rotten. I realized that even though I would never get my big payday, my child would never have to suffer and struggle the way I did when I was little. Eventually, I came to love her for who she was." "I come from a family that has done this. My mother is 20 years younger than my father, and my father is a very wealthy business owner. To say that most women in this situation marry just for money is a misconception, IMO. In my mother's case, she is smart, funny, and attractive, and was stuck in a poverty-stricken family that gave her no options for her to excel in life. My dad believed in her and had the income to open doors that had been closed her whole life. In their 30+ year marriage, they have travelled, lost all of their money, opened businesses together, made all of their money back, raised a family, and all of their children went to university, are in good marriages/partnerships, and went on to their own successes." "I grew up as an expat in the Middle East, moved away to go to uni, and couldn't really handle it as a poor student. I met someone who cares a lot for me, though in the beginning, I was 100% in it for the money. We moved in together, and I actually became very attached to him. He loves me and treats me with great respect, supports my ambitions, and generally takes very good care of me. I wouldn't say I'm head-over-heels in love with him, but in my own way, I love him." "My parents had an arranged marriage. Both my parents are Brahmin, but my dad's family is also very wealthy. My mom grew up middle class in the US and married my dad because he was a wealthy doctor from an appropriate family. They've been married for 25 years and have three children. I can't say it's a bad arrangement. Thanks to my dad's money, my mom got to quit her job in programming (that she hated), go back to school, and become a teacher. I don't think my parents are or were ever 'in love' — however, they've never really fought or been bitter towards one another." "While I didn't marry for money, I found out he had a ton of it. I married young and was very wrong. I thought the man I married was an average guy; he came from a very sophisticated and educated family, but I didn't realize how much money they had until after I married him. As the marriage went on, the more money I realized that he had, and the more I realized he was a miser. His entire life, his family had the money to spend, but chose to live as close to the bare necessities as normal. Now, I'm not knocking this, but I am knocking how he ended up treating me. At 21, I came into the marriage with nothing and didn't sign a prenup. He had a lot coming into the marriage and was also seven years older. From the day I said 'I do,' it was an indebtedness. I constantly 'owed' him for everything he ever 'bought' for me — and he made sure I knew that." "My grandmother married for money after my grandfather died. She grew up in the Great Depression and was afraid after my grandfather died that she would become poor again. So, she saw my step-grandfather as her savior from that fate and married him, despite my father's objections." "I didn't marry him for money, but he got pretty wealthy while I was with him. We met in college, dated for four years while we were both dirt-poor (but his parents were very well off), and then married. My degree seemed busy, so my career wasn't going anywhere. He took off after a couple of years and moved up in salary fast over the years. After five years of marriage, we decided we were financially stable enough to have a child. I had a spotty job history in customer service, so we lived on his growing salary. While I was pregnant, we met and became friends with a woman I quickly became close to. After a year, I was venting to her one day about his spending habits and disclosed how much money he made. Looking back, I realize she didn't start getting closer to him until after that. He ended up leaving me for her less than a year later. I was with him a total of 11 years." "Not me, but I have one or two friends who made this choice. One is unemployed and depressed, but indeed rich by way of her husband's money-making. She is also on the asexual spectrum, so I feel it helped her choose money over passion. She and her husband are good enough friends, but many of us feel he acts like he doesn't respect her — even though she would disagree." "My spoiled, rich friend's mother comes to mind. She spends six months of the year living elsewhere in the state in a beach house (apparently she doesn't care to be around her husband all year long). When my friend was growing up, her mother was a stay-at-home with two kids, a nanny, and a housekeeper who also prepared most meals. She didn't have to lift a finger if she didn't feel like it. She had a VIP parking spot in front of Nordstroms from having dropped so much money there, and she golfed all the time." "My sister married for money. She had a big house, expensive cars, unlimited spending limit, etc. She was happy because she got everything she wanted. We grew up poor, and she worked hard for years before she met him — but she didn't love him, and she cheated on him with the man she loved." "I was in the military and took part in a contract marriage. Basically, a friend of mine from back home agreed to go to the justice of the peace and sign the paperwork. She lived in Virginia, and I was stationed in Texas. It equaled out to me getting roughly $900 a month, plus the option to live off base, and a higher allowance for food. She also got free medical benefits. When it was time for me to separate from the military, I went to legal aid, filed paperwork, and was divorced three months later for about $61 — the cost to file the paperwork where we married." "One of my mom's friends met a very rich guy in New York, married him, and was cared for for a few years. Then, about five years into the marriage, she insisted they move to Boston. She eventually got her way, they changed their residency, and she divorced him." "My mother married because she hated living with her aggressive mother, and was sort of in love with my father. She was a stay-at-home mom, slowly working towards her degree. Now, 22 years later, she's 45 with barely eight years of working experience, and she hates her relationship with my dad and hardly loves him anymore. It's a horrible marriage, but she doesn't divorce because she won't have a maid, a brand new car, or basically money to buy everything she wants to buy." "I married for money to help out a friend's sister. We fell in love in the process. After a while, things got sour, and we fell out of love. After a long while, she got her citizenship. One year later, we got an uncontested divorce. No attorney. We had a pleasant divorce and remain friends to this day." "I have two distant cousins. When they were in their late teens and early 20s, I would hear them talk about how their goal in life was to marry a rich guy and get pregnant. They were very vocal about this. Everyone in our families knew. The younger one got married first. She was 23. The guy she married was genuinely nice and very successful, but not a private jet or helicopter successful. They lived in a very nice place in the city, and drove $80K+ cars. Months after they married, she got like she planned. A few years go by, and, surprise, surprise, they got a divorce." "My cousin married for future wealth. The pre-engagement agreement was that he would work in IT while she goes to medical school, and then, she would work and he would take care of the future children. She didn't go to medical school and decided to take an $8.00/hour job at the hospital. They are divorced." "Well he wasn't wealthy, but he was higher than me on the social rung, and I wanted a ticket in. I married him for a visa. It was an awful relationship, but I did what I had to do: I got away, will soon be a citizen, and remarried for love." "I have never married, but I have been living with three different men over the last six years. My family fled from what is now Croatia when I was a kid. My family was pretty messed up, when I got an 'offer' to live with one of the more respected gang leaders in my area, I left my family and haven't spoked to them again. Since then, I have been sort of moving up the food chain, and I am currently living with a middle-aged CEO who spoils me to no end." "A friend of mine got married in the military to double his pay. He thought to ask a woman who was an ex but was who was also his seemingly toned-down stalker. She wasn't toned-down at all. The money outweighed the thought, I guess. It went horribly bad." "I am currently dating someone who I am not as fond of as I should be, considering how serious we are, but it's hard to think past the money. Her immediate family has approximately $100 million+ in the bank — the largest and most dominant business in their respective market — and she loves me beyond control. Her driveway of Ferraris and Bentleys and knowing that I could be handed a six-figure job any time I want one if I'm willing to commit is troubling to my mind and my soul." And finally... "This isn't about me, but it's about my mom. She grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere. She did well in school and went to a state college, where she met my dad — a graduate student studying abroad (he's from the UK). My mom pretty freely admits she wasn't happy with the 'farmer's wife' kind of life that she saw her mom living, and she wanted a ticket out of there. I do believe she loved my dad, but a lot of the attraction was hitching a ride to his wagon, as he was about ready to finish his doctorate and had pretty decent prospects. They married and moved to the UK, then back to the US, with him chasing various academic jobs and trying to make it up the ladder to deanship and consulting money as fast as possible. He always made pretty decent money, so she stayed home with us kids. In the end, though, my father had the money and used it as a source of power." Whew. Have you or someone you know ever married for money? What happened? Feel free to share your story in the comments, or use this anonymous form below.
CNET
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Angry Birds Is Coming to Apple Arcade in July
Angry Birds took mobile gaming by storm in 2009 with its simple controls and entertaining gameplay, and it helped spawn a media franchise. Now, more than a decade after the first game's launch, the series is bringing a new twist to Apple Arcade on July 3 with Angry Birds Bounce. Apple Arcade is filled with familiar and classic games, alongside exclusive titles, that you can play for $7 per month (£7, AU$10). You can find many of these games in the App Store, but they may have paywalls and ads that hinder your gaming experience. With an Apple Arcade subscription, you can play each game without paywalls and ads, a feature usually denoted by "Plus" in the name. Here are all the games Apple will add to the service in July. You can also check out the games Apple added in June. Angry Birds Bounce Developer: Rovio Apple Red, Chuck and the other birds are back in a new adventure. The pigs have taken over the birds' island, and in order to reclaim it, the birds will have to flock together. But unlike the original game, Bounce offers brick-breaker-like gameplay, and rogue-like elements bring a new challenge to each level. While this isn't the original Angry Birds, you'll still need precision shots to win the day. Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD Plus Developer: Ironhide Game Studio Apple The award-winning tower defense saga is back with more chaos, strategy and powers. With 15 heroes to choose from, 17 unique towers, 22 detailed campaign stages and more than 40 baddies to stop, you'll have to use all your wits to come up with a winning plan. This entry in the series has the same funny tone as previous games, which ensures the skeleton enemies are pretty humerus. Suika Game Plus Developer: XGIMI Apple Put your packing skills to the test with this casual puzzle game. The goal is to merge fruits in a box together to make larger fruits, culminating in the creation of a watermelon. But be careful. The fruit bounce around when you drop them in the box, and if the fruit overflows out of the box, it's game over. Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets Plus Developer: Red Games Co. Apple Immerse yourself in a vibrant 3D world to color, care for and play with over 90 digital creatures in this pet simulator game. You or other young players can have a traditional pet, like a cat, a dog or even a mythical companion, like a unicorn. After you've fed and groomed your pet, you can take them on imaginative journeys to the beach, the desert and other places. You can access these games on Apple Arcade on July 3, and you can access many other games on the service now for $7 per month or $50 a year. You can also try Apple Arcade free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy a new Apple device. To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, and tap the joystick in the menu bar.
Deccan Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Angry Birds Bounce along with three new gaming titles to debut on Apple Arcade in July
Apple Arcade, which is home to more than 200 games is all set to welcome four new gaming titles early next prominent among the lot is the all-new Angry Birds Bounce by the iconic animation studio will be making its debut on July 3. The game blends the classic slingshot gameplay with arcade-style brick-breaker mechanics, creating an all-new adventure full of chaotic charm and action-packed App Store facilitated a whopping $1.3-trillion worth of transactions worldwide in 2024."Angry Birds Bounce reinvents the classic Angry Birds formula with a vertical twist, refreshing the gameplay while staying true to the brand's DNA. We are thrilled to bring this new experience exclusively to Apple Arcade, featuring the largest roster of Angry Birds characters ever, and we can't wait to see our players' reactions to this new title,' said Bryan Cook, Angry Birds Bounce game lead at Angry Birds Bounce, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+, Suika Game+, a delightful fruit-merging puzzle game and Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+, which transforms Crayola's favourite kids' pet toys into digital companions, will also launch on July 3. .Existing games such as Fruit Ninja Classic+ ( by Halfbrick Studios), Bloons TD 6+ (by Ninja Kiwi), and WHAT THE CLASH? (by Triband) will be getting new updates later this month. They get new easter eggs, gameplay levels, vouchers and India, Apple Arcade for individual customers, is available for Rs 99 per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for replies: Google DeepMind working on AI tool to auto-respond in user's writing the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech
