The game of go is widely recognized as being among the world’s most challenging. As a board game it has been played for centuries and continues to be an important part of Chinese culture. It is also a fascinating intellectual pursuit, and the game’s history has much to teach us about how intelligence evolves.

In ancient China, one of the four arts a cultivated scholar and gentleman was expected to master was go. This was because the game taught patience, perseverance, and how to focus one’s attention. It was also said that the way a person played go revealed their character and personality. In modern times, we play a much more relaxed version of the game but it remains an excellent mental exercise and one that can help to improve focus and concentration.

While the game of go has a long and distinguished history, it isn’t alone in its struggle for supremacy. There are a variety of other games that can challenge our cognitive abilities, including chess, backgammon, bridge and poker. However, the game of go is unique because it requires players to make decisions with incomplete information and a high degree of uncertainty. As a result, it has become a scientific research topic that has yielded many insights into decision making and cognitive processes.

One of NOAA’s most valuable assets is its fleet of geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES). These spacecraft are designed to stay above a specific location on Earth and provide advanced imagery and data of atmospheric phenomena that directly impact public safety, protection of property, and the nation’s economic health and prosperity.

GOES satellites operate in geostationary orbit about 22,236 miles above the Earth’s equator. The GOES-R series, which includes GOES-16 and GOES-18, provides high-resolution imaging of Earth’s western hemisphere, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and observations of solar activity and space weather.

The GOES system is a NOAA/NASA joint project, with NOAA providing funding requirements and the spacecraft’s mission, and NASA responsible for the design, development and launch of each spacecraft and its instruments. The GOES system has been in service for 40 years and has become a critical part of NOAA’s National Weather Service operations.

In addition to geostationary imaging, the GOES-R satellites are equipped with an onboard Data Collection System (DCS) which relays environmental data transmissions from remotely located in-situ Automatic Data Collection Platforms (ADPs) to properly equipped receiving stations in radio view of the GOES satellites. These data are then used to create meteorological products such as radar maps, forecasts and advisories. The GOES satellites are also capable of receiving distress signals from people, aircraft and marine vessels and transmitting them to Search and Rescue Ground Stations for immediate action.