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NASA's latest space telescope, the Solar Dynamics Observatory, is delivering unprecedented images of our local star. The telescope was launched Feb. 11. NASA released the first tremendously exciting data from the mission today.

"These initial images show a dynamic sun that I had never seen in more than 40 years of solar research," said Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA, in a release. "SDO will change our understanding of the sun and its processes, which affect our lives and society. This mission will have a huge impact on science, similar to the impact of the Hubble Space Telescope on modern astrophysics."

The sun's internal dynamics were the subject of intense interest over the last few years as the normal waxing and waning of solar activity did not follow past cycles as closely as anticipated. The solar minimum of 2008 stretched deep into 2009, raising questions about how well we understand the complex internal dynamics that drive sun spots, solar flares and coronal-mass ejections.

If the video link isn't working, use the original link below.

Link: Wired Science

In the past, I've shown a pair of photos showing how London has developed.

This wonderful film was made in 1927 by Claude Friese-Greene. Colour film from the 1920s is exceptionally rare, and this is a very powerful example. It shows scenes of London Bridge, the Thames, the Tower of London, Greenwich Observatory, the London docks, Whitehall, the Cenotaph, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Petticoat Lane, the Oval, the Changing of the Guard, Rotten Row, and the Houses of Parliament.

The Cenotaph sequence from around 3:37 to 3:54 is very poignant. This was filmed only nine years after the end of the Great War. The women and looking at the wreaths would very likely be wives and mothers of the men killed, and the Second World War was, at that time, inconceivable.

Claude Friese-Greene was the son of pioneering cinematographer William Friese-Greene, and devoted himself to developing commercially his father's colour process - Biocolour - but without great success. It was soon overtaken by Technicolor and Claude abandoned the process. His role as a pioneer of colour film has now been recognised.

The footage is part of London's Screen Archives and the British Film Archive.

Original Link: How To Be A Retronaut

Later this month, my favourite group of all time, The Divine Comedy - well, Neil Hannon - releases a new album, Bang Goes The Knighthood.

The first single will be The Indie Disco. And it's a cracker!

You can watch the video here (and here, in HD)

I actually cannot wait for the album...

I discovered Tom Scott's web site recently and, after writing this entry yesterday, thought one of his videos would fit in perfectly. His other work in the Things I've Made section are also worthy of your time.

Enjoy!

Edit: I've now realised that I haven't just discovered him - I knew I knew the name from somewhere. Tom is behind the UK arm of Talk Like A Pirate Day, which I've mentioned before here, here and here (with a broken image). Also, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is on the 19th September and is a Saturday this year.

Via: Tom Scott

As you must know by now, I am a huge follower of Formula One. I started watching the sport in the black year of 1994 during which Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger died. The injuries caused to them forced the sport to introduce various safety measures over a period of time, the overall shape, styling and safety of the cars now are a world away from how they were 15 years ago, as you can see below. Focus especially on the area around the cockpit and the driver's head.

However, despite all the safety improvements, accidents can still happen. Henry Surtees was killed a few weeks ago when he was hit on the head by a stray wheel from an accident, and Felipe Massa was injured when a spring left Rubens Barrichello's car ahead of him on the circuit. This BBC video excellently explains what happened and shows just how far the sport has come.

Freak accidents will always happen in Formula One, and in any motor sport. The key thing is what is taken away from them, what is learnt. The sport took many lessons from 1994, let's hope it can learn from these two incidents.

Now then, in less than three years time, London will begin its hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games. It might be a little bit rubbish compared to the well prepared and astonishingly brilliant Chinese games of last year, but let's face it; it's the only chance in my lifetime that such an important worldwide event will happen in this country. We may be chosen to host the Football World Cup in the future and we already have been chosen to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup with come matches being played at Elland Road which I can see from my house! However, the Olympics is the biggest event in the sporting calendar for so many more people.

The official 2012 site is an every changing beast and I haven't spent a massive amount of time looking at it recently. However, I had a quick glance today and came across the webcam section. There are 18 cameras spread across the building sites and they take single images every hour. These images are stored and can be put together to create a wonderful time slip film.

My favourite is the aquatics centre which will have a 2,800-tonne wave-shaped roof. (The Beijing colour changing aquatics centre was one of the most beautiful sights of the last Olympics, however...)

Take a look. Things are quietly coming together.

I adore comedian, musician and wizard-a-like Bill Bailey and so found this brief interview with him a lovely insight into what makes him tick.

With the challenge of guaranteeing a laugh a minute, comedian Bill Bailey tells the BBC's Matthew Stadlen about music, the joys of foamed milk, his mastery of languages and a love of wildlife.

I found the audio to be a little quiet though so be ready to strain your ears.

Link (will open in a new window): Five Minutes With Bill Bailey

Via: BBC News.

This year's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix will mark 70 years since the first race was held in the principality.

For all the changes that have occurred over the decades, however, there will still be lunatics driving cars much faster than you can ever hope for.

Here are two clips of old races in Monte Carlo from 1929 and 1955. Just fabulous.

The Simpsons have changed their opening title sequence for the first time since 1989. And it was well overdue. I really like it.

Now, as you may or may not know, I adore Formula One. I visited the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2004 and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Silverstone has hosted the race regularly since the start of the F1 championship in 1950 and every year since 1987; it alternated with Brands Hatch between 1964 and 1986, and with Aintree between 1955 and 1962.

However, it was announced on 4th July 2008 that Donington Park will be the host to the British Grand Prix for 10 years from 2010.

At first glance, given the geography of our country, I should be delighted by this as it makes it more accessible for me. But the sheer amount of history that has taken place at Silverstone, its wonderful layout and passion that it fills people with will be missed.

Work has begun to alter Donington; £100 million worth of revamp is taking place:

• The pit lane will be moved from its current location to what is presently the Starkey's Straight, with a brand new paddock constructed on the inside of the track at this point and Coppice corner being reprofiled to accommodate the new pit entry.


• The realignment of the straight means that the current Esses will be replaced by a slight left-hand kink, with the Melbourne Hairpin instead becoming the circuit's first corner.


• The track will also be extended, with a new infield loop constructed. Rather than taking the current left-hand hairpin at the end of the Melbourne Loop, the revised circuit will continue straight on into a sweeping downhill left-hand bend and then a new hairpin, before climbing back towards the current pits straight.

Yesterday, the BBC released a simulation of the new circuit created on the racing game, rFactor. It looks like an old-style 'proper' circuit - not a Mickey Mouse one like Singapore, or Bahrain. One that fits into the traditional European view of what a racing track should look like.

You can view the BBC video here.

Time will tell if the alterations take away the character of Doninigton, or whether moving the British Grand Prix can save the famous name in the long run. But Britain, along with Monaco, Italy and France deserve a Formula One race to preserve the heritage of the World Championship, and it doesn't matter whether it is held at a slightly run down, weather worn place or a brand spanking new establishment. It matters that it can produce some good racing. Silverstone has delivered that in spades over the years; can the new Donington do the same?