Space Transportation System (STS-1 / STS-135)

I'm posting two little audio pieces to mark the end of NASAs space shuttle program which will (with any luck) enter its final mission today with the launch of Atlantis (STS-135) in a few hours.

The first was produced for the latest Imperial College I,Science podcast and features science writer and producer Piers Bizony speaking on the history of the space shuttle program at a Super/Collider event in May.

[soundcloud width="100%" height="81" params="" url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18609588"]

The Second is a short piece extracted from the first, imagining what it might sound like to be inside the shuttle during take-off. The radio chatter you hear comes from Columbia (STS-1), the very first shuttle launch which blasted off over 30 years ago on 12th April 1981. The eventual winding down towards the end symbolises the ending of the project's 30 year run.

[soundcloud width="100%" height="81" params="" url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18609682"]

The BBC has produced an excellent interactive history of the space shuttle program here and a friend from my course has also written an excellent article on the future of manned spaced flight here

Rendezvous with Rama

Rendezvous with Rama (written by Arthur C. Clarke) is widely regarded as a Sci-Fi classic, winning both the Hugo and Nebula literary awards after it's release in 1972.

Roberto Tenance talks to Alex, a member of the Imperial College Sci-Fi society, to find out why this book is particularly special to him.

Listen here

Merry Science-mas

As we're all gearing up to Christmas I suppose it's time for a little festive cheer - I'm sure you're all familiar with the 'Night Before Christmas' poem, well here it is with a little science orientated revamp! The poem was written (thanks to Ben and Catherine!) and produced as part of my MSc course.

You can listen to it here (to download, right click 'Save target as')

The lovely voices you hear are thanks to (in order of appearance): Tosin, Alex, me, Ben, Chloe, Jack, Catherine and Camilla.

Merry Christmas!

-Ed

Ray-D-8!

So today we took  over (Ed, Katie and Andy) short science and broadcast our own 'take-over' show which focused on the end of the world via Nuclear Annihilation! (Merry Christmas)

We also produced and recorded a little sketch for the show which gave our own take on an emergency broadcast  (Orson Welles style), thanks also goes to 'Nathaniel Wren' who features as the food correspondent.

You can listen to this on it's own here (Right click 'save target as')

Or if you want to listen to the whole episode of Short Science (episode 80), you can check it out here

Drinkers beware

A short video we shot and produced this week to accompany an article appearing in the Imperial College I, Science magazine. Watch out for Adam Ant!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE9BbGHc9Cw]

The article, written by student Katie Tomlinson, dissects the biology of a night out - so we went to the Union bar with a camera to bombard students with a range of questions to see just how well they performed after a few (or in some cases many) drinks.

Remember, drink responsibly (or at least make sure there isn't a camera in the vicinity).