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2. November 2009

Gazing into the Limits of the Universe

Astronomers have seen farther back in time and identified the earliest and youngest object that can be observed in our universe. It is a galactic cluster, 10.2 billion years distant. We observe these galaxies as they were when the universe was only a quarter of its present age. This awe-inspiring discovery lies at the limit of what we will ever be are able to 'see' in the universe. Incredible!

8. October 2009

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The Blueprint for Stonehenge

The ritual timber circle at Durington Walls known as the Southern Circle may be the model used by the priest-astronomer-architects who designed Stonehenge. Let's reconstruct this incredible archeological find. In so doing, we'll get a feel for what life was like in the only Neolithic village discovered in England - and possibly the largest of its time in all of northwest Europe. This settlement may even have been the resting and feasting place for the work crews who built Stonehenge.

1. October 2009

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What the Lascaux Cave Paintings Tell Us About How Our Ancestors Understood the Stars

The important discoveries of the astronomer-priests of Late Upper Paleolithic Europe included the first constellations, the ecliptic and the structure of the zodiac. Join us as we travel to Lascaux, a World Heritage Site and late Upper Paleolithic cave complex in southwestern France that belongs to the Magdalenian Culture. With Lascaux’s cave paintings having been made in c.15–18,000 BC, our journey there is a journey into the wonders of archeo-astronomy.

14. August 2009

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Rare Photo of 1840s American Steam Locomotive

Photographs of American steam locomotives taken before 1860 are rare. An early design for a passenger locomotive in the United States was the 4-2-0 wheel arrangement shown in this photograph and known as the 'Jervis'. This snapshot of the 1840s Jervis locomotive at a waterfront railroad station offers a fascinating glimpse of the past.

12. August 2009

1 Comment

The British Man of War

An exceptionally scarce, detailed print of an 18th Century First Rate Ship of Line affords the opportunity to ruminate on these immense battleships of the past. Carrying over 90 cannons and roughly 800 men, such behemoths of the high seas stand for a time when the colonial tendrils of the British Empire gripped the world, largely through the military might of the British Navy.

11. August 2009

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Stonehenge As Seen in 1867

Photographs of Stonehenge were published in 1867 by England's Ordnance Survey under the auspices of Colonel Sir Henry James. He was a strong believer that photography should be a major tool for mapping and survey work. The shots shown here provide a glimpse of the photographic capabilities of the 19th Century while offering an opportunity to reflect on the chronology of a truly iconic landmark.

28. July 2009

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When Death Finds You at 30,000 Feet…

If jet aircraft engines fail at high altitude and everyone is staring at Death, there is a last resort power backup that often can save the aircraft and everyone on board. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) can provide enough emergency power to the aircraft so that it can glide to a safe landing many miles away. Fasten your seatbelts as we take off on a journey that will tell you everything you needed to know about the RAT – and more.

21. July 2009

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F-35-Lightning II: Composites on Trial Part III

The F-35 Lightning II will be a test bed for the significant use of composite parts in next generation jet fighters, particularly with fuselage components. Understandably, security concerns will prevent detailed disclosure of F-35 design and assembly, but what we do know about composites and the Joint Strike Fighter program is still well worth considering. Find out more in the final instalment of our three-part series.

20. July 2009

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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Composites on Trial Part II

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is 80% composite materials by volume and 50% by weight. Rising fuel costs mandate widespread use of composites, but questions about long term structural stability have yet to be resolved. In the second of a three-part series, we assess the Dreamliner in minute detail, while also bringing you news of a dramatic blog post on composite fuselage cracks written by an industry insider.

16. July 2009

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Airbus A350: Composites on Trial Part I

The Airbus A350 represents a breakthrough in aircraft design because more than 50% of the aircraft's weight is composite parts. However, recent Airbus crashes that have shocked the world again raise questions about the long term durability of carbon-resin components. In the first of a three part series, we look at composites as they appear in the A350 and start to weigh up their benefits – and potential costs.