Science journalist Zaria Gorvett on Einstein’s quirky habits:

Luckily for Einstein, he also took regular naps. According to apocryphal legend, to make sure he didn’t overdo it he’d recline in his armchair with a spoon in his hand and a metal plate directly beneath. He’d allow himself to drift off for a second, then—bam!—the spoon would fall from his hand and the sound of it hitting the plate would wake him up.