The solar system is passing through an interstellar cloud with a strong magnetic field, according to a report in the Dec 24 issue of Nature. A team of scientists explain how NASA’s Voyager spacecraft was involved in the discovery.
“Using data from Voyager, we have discovered a strong magnetic field just outside the solar system,” says Merav Opher, a NASA Heliophysics expert from George Mason University. “This magnetic field holds the interstellar cloud together and solves the long-standing puzzle of how it can exist at all.”
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Monday, 7 December 2009
Year ends with a Blue Moon
The second full moon to occur in a single calendar month is known as a Blue Moon - an event which takes place approximately once every two and half years.
This month has two full moons, on 2nd December and 31st December.
The Native Americans call this the Long Nights Moon, or Snow Moon.
This month has two full moons, on 2nd December and 31st December.
The Native Americans call this the Long Nights Moon, or Snow Moon.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Darwin's diaries
Darwin's notebooks go online to mark the 150th anniversary of 'Origin of the Species'
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/11/darwins-notebooks-go-online-on-150th-anniversary-of--origin-of-the-species/1
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/11/darwins-notebooks-go-online-on-150th-anniversary-of--origin-of-the-species/1
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
England: the centre of time and space
How did England become the centre of time?
In 1884, delegates from 25 nations gathered in Washington, USA for the International Meridian Conference to pinpoint a location for the global measurement of time and space.
By the end of the summit, after much debate, the meeting agreed Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) would be used as the standard for the world, with the day beginning at midnight at Greenwich and counted on a 24-hour clock.
In 1884, delegates from 25 nations gathered in Washington, USA for the International Meridian Conference to pinpoint a location for the global measurement of time and space.
By the end of the summit, after much debate, the meeting agreed Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) would be used as the standard for the world, with the day beginning at midnight at Greenwich and counted on a 24-hour clock.
Monday, 19 October 2009
The Shadow Effect
"It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are,
without any self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events,
by which the path to success may be recognized."
– I Ching
www.theshadoweffect.com
without any self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events,
by which the path to success may be recognized."
– I Ching
www.theshadoweffect.com
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
National Poetry Day: Thursday 8 October
National Poetry Day is Thursday 8th October. It was established in 1909 - making this year the centenary. This year's theme is Heroes and Heroines.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Speculation on 2012 possible events
A forthcoming film by Roland Emmerich entitled 2012 focuses on a series of disasters which lead mankind to leave the planet in order to survive.
Here's a summary of 10 theories about what might happen in 2012:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6132571/2012-Will-it-be-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it.html
Here's a summary of 10 theories about what might happen in 2012:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6132571/2012-Will-it-be-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it.html
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Meteor watch
The evening of Tuesday August 11th to the morning of August 13th, covers the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.
Time to scan the skies for those fleeting streaks of light.
Time to scan the skies for those fleeting streaks of light.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Stonehenge
The circular ditch and bank, known as a henge, was first built at the site around 5000 years ago. A wooden structure was constructed around 2600BC, followed by the stone monument, between 2500 and 1500BC (the stones were arranged and re-arranged over a period of 1000 years.)
The larger stones were brought from nearby Marlborough, but the smaller ones, known as Bluestones, originate from the Preseli mountains in Wales, some 250 miles (385km) away.
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
7/7/09 Do the latest crop circles point to solar flares?
7/7/09
There is speculation that some of the latest crop of circles point to this date as a time of increased sunspot activity in the form of solar flares.
This coincides with a period of tension and unrest in trouble spots around the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bolf5zzmfDQ
There is speculation that some of the latest crop of circles point to this date as a time of increased sunspot activity in the form of solar flares.
This coincides with a period of tension and unrest in trouble spots around the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bolf5zzmfDQ
Friday, 26 June 2009
Expressions
After Darwin: Contemporary Expressions
Natural History Museum, London
26 June - 29 November 2009
Open 10.00 - 17.50 daily, Monday to Sunday
Seven commissioned works explore our emotions, expressions and relationships with animals, through a provocative mix of film installations, videos, photographs and literature.
Natural History Museum, London
26 June - 29 November 2009
Open 10.00 - 17.50 daily, Monday to Sunday
Seven commissioned works explore our emotions, expressions and relationships with animals, through a provocative mix of film installations, videos, photographs and literature.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Psychic experiment on Twitter
Psychologist Richard Wiseman, author of Quirkology, invites people to take part in an experiment to assess psychic potential. He will visit a specific location then ask participants to choose between five possible target locations.
http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com
http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com
Monday, 18 May 2009
Towards 2012: Olympics and Apocalypse
In the run-up to 2012, what should worry us more - the vast expense of hosting the Olympics or the end of the world?
Whichever way you look at it, 2012 is likely to be a significant year for Londoners.
Come the summer of that year, that bottomless money pit of a building site will be transformed into an Olympic wonderland.
Then, as we approach the winter solstice, the end of the world could well be nigh, according to Mayan prophecy.
This ancient culture warned of the "End of Days" - a phrase which has about as many interpretations as a Nostradamus quatrain.
In mathematical terms, 2012 marks the end of a cycle of around 26,000 years in the Mayan calendar.
When the calendar was created, the Mayans were envisioning a future so distant that they could have had no concrete concept of what it would actually be like.
Their world view was a cyclical one - spring follows winter, sunrise gives way to sunset, civilisations rise and fall.
It could be argued that their prophecies of death, destruction, and the end of the world by natural disaster were pure speculation, based on canny calculation.
Calling it the End of Days makes it sound like time is running out - but rather than the end of the world, maybe the sign of our times is a shift in our perception of time itself.
Given the rapid pace of technological progress, we could be on the brink of a quantum leap in our understanding of the space-time continuum and our place in the universe.
The advent of the Hadron collider, generator of a vast shake-up of atomic particles and our view of how they operate, means the accepted laws of physics could be overturned. (While Halo's progress was temporarily tarnished by a spanner in the works, hopefully its ring of confidence will soon be restored.)
This raises the question of what matter is, and how much the material world actually matters.
This is not just thinking outside the box, but wondering whether the box itself actually exists.
Without physical matter, there can be no concept of time. An awareness of the limitations of the material way of life encourages us to contemplate a more spiritual side to existence.
For the religious, we could well be having our Apocalypse now, Armageddon and the Second Coming being another couple of options.
From the non-denominational standpoint of the slightly spiritual, the current state of the world is a kind of karmic come-uppance.
For others, a sense of impending doom echoes the words of Einstein:
"I know not with what weapons the third World War will be fought. But the fourth will be fought with sticks and stones."
In this era of accelerated communication, we know how flawed predictive texting can be, let alone predicting the future.
If it seems unwise to jump to conclusions based on a single source of information, let's compare the Mayan prophecies with one from the Maoris.
According to one Maori legend, 2012 is the time of "ka hinga te arai" which means the fall of the curtain, or veil.
Before we prepare to face "the final curtain", it's worth bearing in mind the alternative interpretation - a "lifting of the veil" which could suggest a change in our world view.
The future is not set in stone. There are infinite possibilities, but as in a chess game, each new move draws us closer to a particular outcome.
So let's make sure we make all the right moves towards the outcome we want - to save the planet.
If Gaia's natural balance is out of kilter, let's do what we can to rectify that, before she carries us away with her own cleansing programme of natural disasters.
If a corrupt system needs dismantling, if outdated practices and ways of thinking need to be swept away, so be it. Chances are this may happen, whether we like it or not, so best go with the flow.
No-one knows exactly what 2012 will bring. But what we do know is that whatever happens in the world is up to us. We are the co-creators who determine its fate. The earth's future is in our hands.
Whichever way you look at it, 2012 is likely to be a significant year for Londoners.
Come the summer of that year, that bottomless money pit of a building site will be transformed into an Olympic wonderland.
Then, as we approach the winter solstice, the end of the world could well be nigh, according to Mayan prophecy.
This ancient culture warned of the "End of Days" - a phrase which has about as many interpretations as a Nostradamus quatrain.
In mathematical terms, 2012 marks the end of a cycle of around 26,000 years in the Mayan calendar.
When the calendar was created, the Mayans were envisioning a future so distant that they could have had no concrete concept of what it would actually be like.
Their world view was a cyclical one - spring follows winter, sunrise gives way to sunset, civilisations rise and fall.
It could be argued that their prophecies of death, destruction, and the end of the world by natural disaster were pure speculation, based on canny calculation.
Calling it the End of Days makes it sound like time is running out - but rather than the end of the world, maybe the sign of our times is a shift in our perception of time itself.
Given the rapid pace of technological progress, we could be on the brink of a quantum leap in our understanding of the space-time continuum and our place in the universe.
The advent of the Hadron collider, generator of a vast shake-up of atomic particles and our view of how they operate, means the accepted laws of physics could be overturned. (While Halo's progress was temporarily tarnished by a spanner in the works, hopefully its ring of confidence will soon be restored.)
This raises the question of what matter is, and how much the material world actually matters.
This is not just thinking outside the box, but wondering whether the box itself actually exists.
Without physical matter, there can be no concept of time. An awareness of the limitations of the material way of life encourages us to contemplate a more spiritual side to existence.
For the religious, we could well be having our Apocalypse now, Armageddon and the Second Coming being another couple of options.
From the non-denominational standpoint of the slightly spiritual, the current state of the world is a kind of karmic come-uppance.
For others, a sense of impending doom echoes the words of Einstein:
"I know not with what weapons the third World War will be fought. But the fourth will be fought with sticks and stones."
In this era of accelerated communication, we know how flawed predictive texting can be, let alone predicting the future.
If it seems unwise to jump to conclusions based on a single source of information, let's compare the Mayan prophecies with one from the Maoris.
According to one Maori legend, 2012 is the time of "ka hinga te arai" which means the fall of the curtain, or veil.
Before we prepare to face "the final curtain", it's worth bearing in mind the alternative interpretation - a "lifting of the veil" which could suggest a change in our world view.
The future is not set in stone. There are infinite possibilities, but as in a chess game, each new move draws us closer to a particular outcome.
So let's make sure we make all the right moves towards the outcome we want - to save the planet.
If Gaia's natural balance is out of kilter, let's do what we can to rectify that, before she carries us away with her own cleansing programme of natural disasters.
If a corrupt system needs dismantling, if outdated practices and ways of thinking need to be swept away, so be it. Chances are this may happen, whether we like it or not, so best go with the flow.
No-one knows exactly what 2012 will bring. But what we do know is that whatever happens in the world is up to us. We are the co-creators who determine its fate. The earth's future is in our hands.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Daydreaming can be inspiring
Day dreamers aren't just drifters, they're applying their minds to solving complex problems, according to the latest research.
"Mind wandering is typically associated with negative things such as laziness or inattentiveness, but our study shows our brains are very active when we daydream - much more active than when we focus on routine tasks," says Prof Kalina Christoff, who led the study at British Columbia University.
"Mind wandering is typically associated with negative things such as laziness or inattentiveness, but our study shows our brains are very active when we daydream - much more active than when we focus on routine tasks," says Prof Kalina Christoff, who led the study at British Columbia University.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
The darkness behind our obsession with doom
The dark undercurrents of doom and gloom in the media.
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/justin_williams
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/justin_williams
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Good to grow?
Good to grow - Honda's contribution to reducing the carbon footprint?
You wouldn't expect Honda and horticulture to go hand in hand, but the company is promoting its green credentials by running a competition about growing plants.
www.honda.co.uk/cars/insight/competition
You wouldn't expect Honda and horticulture to go hand in hand, but the company is promoting its green credentials by running a competition about growing plants.
www.honda.co.uk/cars/insight/competition
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Pandemic panic
Could the pandemic have been predicted?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227063.800-swine-flu-the-predictable-pandemic.html?full=true
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227063.800-swine-flu-the-predictable-pandemic.html?full=true
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
NewsBiscuit
NewsBiscuit, news digest from a different perspective.
http://newsbiscuit.com/2009/04/13/evolution-cannot-explain-existence-of-
creationists-concedes-dawkins/
http://newsbiscuit.com/2009/04/13/evolution-cannot-explain-existence-of-
creationists-concedes-dawkins/
Monday, 27 April 2009
RFM Play Whale in the Room
The writers have been chosen to take part in RFM Play's project to create a Twitter-sourced play and are now tweeting in character.
The dialogue can be followed on Twitter between now and 8 May.
The dialogue can be followed on Twitter between now and 8 May.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
RFMPlay Twitter-inspired radio drama
Location: Twitter
Participants: Around 175 writers and creative types
Plot:
A Machiavellian mastermind oversees the entire experiment and is in charge of the sinister-sounding “Observation Period”.
Perhaps the participants will be like photons in the double slit experiment, their behaviour altered by the mere fact of being observed.
Or they may simply continue to bounce ideas off each other regardless, until they burn out of puns, innuendo, philosophical musings and witty backchat.
Are they guinea pigs or lab rats? Or a genetically-modified hybrid of the two?
Five writers will be chosen for the next phase of the project – to Tweet in character, with the aim of crafting a radio play from the resulting dialogue.
Participants: Around 175 writers and creative types
Plot:
A Machiavellian mastermind oversees the entire experiment and is in charge of the sinister-sounding “Observation Period”.
Perhaps the participants will be like photons in the double slit experiment, their behaviour altered by the mere fact of being observed.
Or they may simply continue to bounce ideas off each other regardless, until they burn out of puns, innuendo, philosophical musings and witty backchat.
Are they guinea pigs or lab rats? Or a genetically-modified hybrid of the two?
Five writers will be chosen for the next phase of the project – to Tweet in character, with the aim of crafting a radio play from the resulting dialogue.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Polish paper cuts
Wycinanki
The art of Polish paper cuts - may sound painful but is in fact an exhibition featuring the traditional art of paper cutting.
Intricate, brightly-coloured, hand-crafted examples now on display at the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill. Until 27 September
The art of Polish paper cuts - may sound painful but is in fact an exhibition featuring the traditional art of paper cutting.
Intricate, brightly-coloured, hand-crafted examples now on display at the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill. Until 27 September
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Friday, 3 April 2009
Look to the skies
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture.
Marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first glimpses through a telescope and the birth of modern astronomy, it invites people all over the world to experience the wonders of the night sky.
www.astronomy2009.co.uk
Marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first glimpses through a telescope and the birth of modern astronomy, it invites people all over the world to experience the wonders of the night sky.
www.astronomy2009.co.uk
Sunday, 29 March 2009
World Peace Meditation
Wednesday 1 April at 7:30pm (GMT)
World Peace Card Meditation.
This group meditation involves thousands of people with the united focus of bringing peace to the world.
Participants are invited to meditate at the allotted time, for a suggested period of 15 minutes, using the cards, which contain images of specially-designed world peace grids.
For further information and World Peace Card download:
http://www.reiki.org/WPCM.html
World Peace Card Meditation.
This group meditation involves thousands of people with the united focus of bringing peace to the world.
Participants are invited to meditate at the allotted time, for a suggested period of 15 minutes, using the cards, which contain images of specially-designed world peace grids.
For further information and World Peace Card download:
http://www.reiki.org/WPCM.html
Friday, 27 March 2009
Earth Hour
Saturday 28 March, 8.30pm: Time to switch off in a gesture of concern over climate change.
Campaigners hope to get as many homes and businesses as possible in darkness for an hour.
Campaigners hope to get as many homes and businesses as possible in darkness for an hour.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Ancestors online
A new historical database of London gives access to millions of documents to help online users trace their ancestry.
The records date from the 1500's to early 20th century and are gleaned from a number of sources including parish registers, electoral rolls, school admissions and workhouses.
The records reveal the London roots of Britney Spears, giving details of her great grandfather, George Portell, who was married in Tottenham in 1923, while one of JK Rowling's ancestors, WR Rowling, appears in the Mile End marriage register for 1872.
The London Historical Records have been added by Ancestry.co.uk to their existing database of births, marriages and deaths, and can be accessed free for 14 days, after which time a subscription service applies.
The records date from the 1500's to early 20th century and are gleaned from a number of sources including parish registers, electoral rolls, school admissions and workhouses.
The records reveal the London roots of Britney Spears, giving details of her great grandfather, George Portell, who was married in Tottenham in 1923, while one of JK Rowling's ancestors, WR Rowling, appears in the Mile End marriage register for 1872.
The London Historical Records have been added by Ancestry.co.uk to their existing database of births, marriages and deaths, and can be accessed free for 14 days, after which time a subscription service applies.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Bubbly blondes go brunette
A growing number of blondes are reaching for the bottle to dye their hair brown, the latest research suggests, in the hope of being taken more seriously at work.
In a study commissioned by Superdrug, 62 per cent of workers said they thought brunettes looked more professional in the workplace than blondes.
"The study shows that brunettes seem to be taken more seriously, which is causing a rise in the number of fair-haired women dyeing their hair," said a spokesman.
Maybe some of them are just going back to their roots.
In a study commissioned by Superdrug, 62 per cent of workers said they thought brunettes looked more professional in the workplace than blondes.
"The study shows that brunettes seem to be taken more seriously, which is causing a rise in the number of fair-haired women dyeing their hair," said a spokesman.
Maybe some of them are just going back to their roots.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Jam tomorrow
Marks and Spencer have added a recession-busting jam sandwich to their range, priced at 75 pence.
What's next? The credit crunchy peanut butter buttie?
(I might just buy that.)
What's next? The credit crunchy peanut butter buttie?
(I might just buy that.)
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Got any good ghost stories?
To take part in a survey on ghostly experiences, and find out more about spooky stuff, go to: http://www.scienceofghosts.com/
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Barbie turns 50
She's just turned fifty, but she's wearing well – thanks to being fashioned out of the kind of plastic which needs no surgery.
Love her or hate her, Barbie is undeniably a significant cultural icon of our times. To some, this doll represents an adorable image of femininity, to others, she is a loathsome symbol of body fascism.
Her feet are forever on tiptoe, to accommodate the highest of heels. No sensible walking shoes for her. Her legs are long but, in standard models, unbending. Only special models like Disco Barbie get to flex their knees.
Her lips are pink and pouting, her bland expression non-threatening, her blue eyes slightly glazed. Her breathtaking hour-glass figure would be the envy of Victorian maidens squeezed into rib-crushing corsets of the kind that used to bring on fainting fits.
The average woman may curse her plastic perfection, but some little girls still love her, from her long synthetic hair down to her shiny stilettos.
There are fears that such children could be brainwashed into thinking that blonde, busty and leggy is the ideal feminine form, leading to low self-esteem, anorexia and other disorders if they don't measure up, but surely this is taking the doll's influence too seriously.
Mattel may have created a model of monstrous proportions, but it's far-fetched to claim that her image sullies the innocence of little girls, who see her merely as a pretty plaything, not as a symbol of something more sinister.
If there is anything dangerous about her it must be her annoying accessories, which are often strewn around the floor during play and are small, pointy and particularly painful if trodden on.
Equally irritating are her tiny tops and skin-tight trousers, which are so fiddly that little fingers can take them off, but not put them on again, leading to a glut of naked plastic limbs sticking out of the toy box in a still life orgy.
When Barbie is stripped of her clothing, we can see just how anatomically incorrect she is: Look, no nipples. And below the waist, a strange lacy pattern which doubles for a pair of knickers.
Barbie may be appear to be built in the image of a teenage boy's fantasy, but as a sex symbol she is a disappointment. Strip her down to the bare essentials and there is something lacking. You can dress her up any way you want, but she'll never be more than a dumb bland clothes-horse.
Love her or hate her, Barbie is undeniably a significant cultural icon of our times. To some, this doll represents an adorable image of femininity, to others, she is a loathsome symbol of body fascism.
Her feet are forever on tiptoe, to accommodate the highest of heels. No sensible walking shoes for her. Her legs are long but, in standard models, unbending. Only special models like Disco Barbie get to flex their knees.
Her lips are pink and pouting, her bland expression non-threatening, her blue eyes slightly glazed. Her breathtaking hour-glass figure would be the envy of Victorian maidens squeezed into rib-crushing corsets of the kind that used to bring on fainting fits.
The average woman may curse her plastic perfection, but some little girls still love her, from her long synthetic hair down to her shiny stilettos.
There are fears that such children could be brainwashed into thinking that blonde, busty and leggy is the ideal feminine form, leading to low self-esteem, anorexia and other disorders if they don't measure up, but surely this is taking the doll's influence too seriously.
Mattel may have created a model of monstrous proportions, but it's far-fetched to claim that her image sullies the innocence of little girls, who see her merely as a pretty plaything, not as a symbol of something more sinister.
If there is anything dangerous about her it must be her annoying accessories, which are often strewn around the floor during play and are small, pointy and particularly painful if trodden on.
Equally irritating are her tiny tops and skin-tight trousers, which are so fiddly that little fingers can take them off, but not put them on again, leading to a glut of naked plastic limbs sticking out of the toy box in a still life orgy.
When Barbie is stripped of her clothing, we can see just how anatomically incorrect she is: Look, no nipples. And below the waist, a strange lacy pattern which doubles for a pair of knickers.
Barbie may be appear to be built in the image of a teenage boy's fantasy, but as a sex symbol she is a disappointment. Strip her down to the bare essentials and there is something lacking. You can dress her up any way you want, but she'll never be more than a dumb bland clothes-horse.
International Women's Day
Today is International Women's Day. The celebration began in honour of women's economic, social and political achievements, and the date was declared a holiday by the United Nations. It is still an official holiday in a number of countries, and has become a more general celebration of womanhood.
When an International Men's Day is declared, we'll know that feminism has finally made sufficient progress.
When an International Men's Day is declared, we'll know that feminism has finally made sufficient progress.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Kepler telescope sets off to seek out new worlds
Nasa has launched a powerful telescope into space with the aim of seeking out planets which could support life.
Kepler, named after a German 17th-century astrophysicist, has set off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a three and a half year mission to scan the galaxy for signs of potentially habitable planets.
Kepler, named after a German 17th-century astrophysicist, has set off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a three and a half year mission to scan the galaxy for signs of potentially habitable planets.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Marmalade's future may be in shreds
Marmalade used to be the traditional preserve of the British breakfast table.
But the popularity of Paddington Bear's favourite sandwich filler is on the wane and could be in danger of being usurped by orange jam.
Marmalade is traditionally made from the Seville orange with its signature bitter-sweet taste, and peel added for extra bite, but the jam is a blander version, made from ordinary eating varities of orange.
One man has vowed to fight through thick-cut and thin to conserve his favourite preserve.
"The greatest threat to marmalade is the failure of most manufacturers to market it successfully to a younger audience," says Steve Jones, who extols the glories of Golden Shred and other well-known brands on his website, Marmaland.
www.marmaland.com
But the popularity of Paddington Bear's favourite sandwich filler is on the wane and could be in danger of being usurped by orange jam.
Marmalade is traditionally made from the Seville orange with its signature bitter-sweet taste, and peel added for extra bite, but the jam is a blander version, made from ordinary eating varities of orange.
One man has vowed to fight through thick-cut and thin to conserve his favourite preserve.
"The greatest threat to marmalade is the failure of most manufacturers to market it successfully to a younger audience," says Steve Jones, who extols the glories of Golden Shred and other well-known brands on his website, Marmaland.
www.marmaland.com
Friday, 27 February 2009
Einstein emobot raises eyebrows
The face of Einstein has been chosen for the world's first emotionally interactive robot.
The model, which recognises and responds to human emotions, incorporates a flesh-like material known as Frubber to create life-like facial expressions.
The Nobel prize-winning physicist was chosen as a well-known scientific figure whose face is familiar and likeable, with expressive features.
The animatronic empath, designed by Hanson Robotics, is engineered to interact with humans and could be used to teach autistic children how to perceive emotion.
Designer David Hanson told UC San Diego News: "Some scientists believe strongly that very human-like robots are so inherently creepy that people can never get over it and interact with them normally.
"These are some of the questions we're trying to address. We're trying to get past the novelty of the technology to a certain extent so that people can socially engage with the robots and get lost in that social engagement."
Any inappropriate social interaction could presumably be curtailed by rebooting the emobot.
(Original story from pa.press.net)
www.hansonrobotics.com
The model, which recognises and responds to human emotions, incorporates a flesh-like material known as Frubber to create life-like facial expressions.
The Nobel prize-winning physicist was chosen as a well-known scientific figure whose face is familiar and likeable, with expressive features.
The animatronic empath, designed by Hanson Robotics, is engineered to interact with humans and could be used to teach autistic children how to perceive emotion.
Designer David Hanson told UC San Diego News: "Some scientists believe strongly that very human-like robots are so inherently creepy that people can never get over it and interact with them normally.
"These are some of the questions we're trying to address. We're trying to get past the novelty of the technology to a certain extent so that people can socially engage with the robots and get lost in that social engagement."
Any inappropriate social interaction could presumably be curtailed by rebooting the emobot.
(Original story from pa.press.net)
www.hansonrobotics.com
Thursday, 26 February 2009
The International
The own your money. They run your life. They control everything... except one man...
Interpol agent Louis Salinger, battling against an evil bank, is played by Clive Owen, who says of the film:
"A huge part of the movie is saying look at banks and are they using people's money appropriately? Are they completely sound institutions? And the whole world's doing that now, so it's incredibly timely."
Interpol agent Louis Salinger, battling against an evil bank, is played by Clive Owen, who says of the film:
"A huge part of the movie is saying look at banks and are they using people's money appropriately? Are they completely sound institutions? And the whole world's doing that now, so it's incredibly timely."
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Happy birthday to Kew
Kew's Tropical Extravaganza is a luxuriant display featuring thousands of orchids and tropical plants.
The exhibition in the Princess of Wales conservatory is part of Kew's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Around the gardens, the first signs of spring are showing: snowdrops, crocuses and even a glimpse of those proverbial green shoots...
Tropical Extravaganza at Kew Gardens until 8 March.
www.kew.org
Monday, 16 February 2009
what on earth are we missing?
Rather than scanning the skies for planets with the potential to support life, we could have just as much chance of uncovering alien existence closer to home, according to cosmologist Paul Davies.
He believes that undiscovered life forms could exist in microcosm on the earth, in environments which have remained unexplored simply because they are not thought to have the right biochemical composition to harbour living organisms.
"It could be that weird life and real life are intermingled, " says Davies, a professor at Arizona State University.
"As more terrestrial environments are explored it seems likely that new and ever more exotic forms of life will be discovered.
"If someone discovers shadow life or weird life, it will be the biggest sensation in biology since Darwin."
Source: Daily Mail
He believes that undiscovered life forms could exist in microcosm on the earth, in environments which have remained unexplored simply because they are not thought to have the right biochemical composition to harbour living organisms.
"It could be that weird life and real life are intermingled, " says Davies, a professor at Arizona State University.
"As more terrestrial environments are explored it seems likely that new and ever more exotic forms of life will be discovered.
"If someone discovers shadow life or weird life, it will be the biggest sensation in biology since Darwin."
Source: Daily Mail
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
Looking for an unusual Valentine's gift - how about a heart-shaped potato?
Thanks to the lifting of the EU ban on strangely-shaped vegetables (a move no doubt welcomed by Esther Rantzen) this French variety called Franceline is now on sale in selected branches of Tesco's.
Thanks to the lifting of the EU ban on strangely-shaped vegetables (a move no doubt welcomed by Esther Rantzen) this French variety called Franceline is now on sale in selected branches of Tesco's.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
A blight of bankers
As bankers queue up to issue inadequate apologies, who could have foreseen the problems that now beset our financial institutions?
"Anyone not blinded by money, power and pride," says Paul Moore, a former risk manager at HBOS.
According to one psychiatrist who counsels city types, behind excessive greed there is often a deep-rooted fear of loss.
Imagine how many money-lenders must be losing it right now.
"Anyone not blinded by money, power and pride," says Paul Moore, a former risk manager at HBOS.
According to one psychiatrist who counsels city types, behind excessive greed there is often a deep-rooted fear of loss.
Imagine how many money-lenders must be losing it right now.
Happy Birthday Darwin
The bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth is being celebrated with a whole host of TV programmes, events and exibitions. (Including Big Idea, Big Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, and a new exhibition at his former home, Down House in Kent.)
The pioneer of the theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest was married to his first cousin Emma - so not averse to a bit of in-breeding.
His idea that man was descended from apes provoked huge controversy in Victorian times, and elicited this jokey couplet from Gilbert and Sullivan:
"Darwinian man, though well-behaved
At best is only a monkey shaved."
Fascinating Darwin fact: While travelling around the world on the HMS Beagle, Darwin tucked into his Christmas dinner, only to discover that he had inadvertently eaten a rare species of ostrich. Mortified, he sent the remains back to England, where museum officials subsequently named the bird "Rhea Darwinii" in his honour (oblivious to the fact that it had already been classified elsewhere under a different name.)
Birthday messages for Darwin can be posted at: www.darwin200.org
The pioneer of the theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest was married to his first cousin Emma - so not averse to a bit of in-breeding.
His idea that man was descended from apes provoked huge controversy in Victorian times, and elicited this jokey couplet from Gilbert and Sullivan:
"Darwinian man, though well-behaved
At best is only a monkey shaved."
Fascinating Darwin fact: While travelling around the world on the HMS Beagle, Darwin tucked into his Christmas dinner, only to discover that he had inadvertently eaten a rare species of ostrich. Mortified, he sent the remains back to England, where museum officials subsequently named the bird "Rhea Darwinii" in his honour (oblivious to the fact that it had already been classified elsewhere under a different name.)
Birthday messages for Darwin can be posted at: www.darwin200.org
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Snowed under? Try a Mapletini
A Mapletini is a cocktail made of maple syrup, vodka and a dollop of fresh snow.
(A twist on the New England tradition of pouring hot syrup on snow to make toffee).
As many people in the UK must be a bit sick of snow at the moment, maybe ingesting a small amount of it would serve as a homeopathic remedy. Cheers!
(A twist on the New England tradition of pouring hot syrup on snow to make toffee).
As many people in the UK must be a bit sick of snow at the moment, maybe ingesting a small amount of it would serve as a homeopathic remedy. Cheers!
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Fries on Friday 13th
"Sorry we are closed - we will re-open on Friday 13th February"..
Evidently no triskadecaphobics at this branch of McDonalds.
I reckon they missed a marketing opportunity here - instead of planning to open on the Friday, they could have waited and had a Valentine's Special on Saturday, giving cash-strapped couples the chance to share a thick shake.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Revels - which flavour is in favour?
Limited edition bags of Revels chocolates currently on sale feature a "mystery sweet" replacing the coffee flavour.
The new flavour has now been identified as strawberry, ending the suspense.
(It remains a mystery as to whether any real berries were harmed during the making of this flavour, since strawberry does not feature in the list of ingredients, although pectin does, so there could be a hint of fruit in there.)
After an eviction campaign in which chocolate lovers were asked to choose between the two flavours, the vote is in and coffee will now be returned to the mixed bag.
This fun marketing campaign values the opinion of its customers, and the power of choice wielded by consumers may begin to count for more during the credit crunch and beyond.
This limited edition pack of Revels was bought in Woolworths just before it shut down. Shame the store had to close only a year before its centenary. I once heard a horror story about a manager rescuing stray sweets from the floor and returning them to the pic'n'mix, but apart from that, it was a good place to get chocolate, an affordable treat which is likely to remain a popular mood booster in the current economic climate.
Ross returns
Jonathan Ross chose to mark his return to the BBC Friday night spot with the bold fashion statement of a red suit, almost a match for his wife's flaming tresses.
Guests include Tom Cruise and Stephen Fry, but no women, presumably to minimise the danger of smutty banter creeping in.
Guests include Tom Cruise and Stephen Fry, but no women, presumably to minimise the danger of smutty banter creeping in.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Year of the Ox
Prepare to welcome in the Chinese New Year - the year of the ox.
People born in the year of the ox are said to be calm, dependable and logical and make strong leaders.
Prominent personalities born under this sign include man of the moment, Barack Obama.
Other leaders: Saddam Hussein, Napoleon and Margaret Thatcher.
On the arts and creative side: George Clooney, Jack Nicholson and Bruce Springsteen.
People born in the year of the ox are said to be calm, dependable and logical and make strong leaders.
Prominent personalities born under this sign include man of the moment, Barack Obama.
Other leaders: Saddam Hussein, Napoleon and Margaret Thatcher.
On the arts and creative side: George Clooney, Jack Nicholson and Bruce Springsteen.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
The Lost Book
The Lost Book, a collaborative adventure in storytelling is an online series with a difference: the story will be written by anyone and everyone who wants to get involved. The first episode (complete with clues) will be posted on January 30 2009 and where the story goes after that is up to you, me and everyone taking part.
The Lost Book is part of The Lost World Read 2009, a venture that celebrates Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 150th birthday and Charles Darwin’s bicentenary.
www.thelostbook.net
The Lost Book is part of The Lost World Read 2009, a venture that celebrates Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 150th birthday and Charles Darwin’s bicentenary.
www.thelostbook.net
Friday, 9 January 2009
Demons
Demons
Starring Philip Glenister
For background information on the TV series, plus a Demons game
www.itv.com/Demons
Starring Philip Glenister
For background information on the TV series, plus a Demons game
www.itv.com/Demons
Saturday, 3 January 2009
11th hour for Dr Who
The eleventh Dr Who has been announced - Matt Smith, at 26, the youngest doctor ever in the role, has been chosen to take over the Tardis from David Tennant.
www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/news
www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/news
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