Wait, your friend really stopped believing the moon landing was fake after seeing the math? That's shocking because most folks into that never actually look at the numbers. It's crazy how a simple fact can destroy a whole big story. I saw the same with flat earth stuff when people finally looked at real space photos. Why do we chase wild ideas when the plain truth is sitting right there?

Totally get that "cracked a secret code" feeling. It's like the first time you balance on a bike without training wheels, or when a recipe actually works. Our brains are wired for those little "aha!" wins after a bunch of fails. The old hands forget the thrill because their skill is now subconscious (like driving a familiar road). But that first clear success is the hook, it proves progress is possible and makes you want to chase the next one.