Popcorn Galaxy

Deep Sky Videos is a series of films about astronomy.

We cover all sorts of topics, including a fun series inside the world's biggest and best telescopes.

But our raison d'être is making 110 films about every item in the Messier Catalogue - a series of objects in space listed by the French astronomer Charles Messier.

Here's a video I made about Messier, including a visit to his grave in Paris.

Today we posted our 49th Messier video, all about the galaxy he listed at number 82 (or M82). It's also known as the Cigar Galaxy or NGC 3030, where NGC means New General Catalogue.

The latest video features a comparison between the galaxy's lively core and a bag of microwave popcorn. It features Professor Paul Crowther from the University of Sheffield.

There is also some left-over material I posted in a second video which has some cool stuff about hypervelocity stars.

Newton's Space Wood

The first video in our new "Objectivity" series has been uploaded.

It focuses on Sir Isaac Newton, famous for many things including his work on gravity.

The famous story - which I always thought was apocryphal - is that the idea popped into Newton's head when when saw an apple fall from a tree.

But Keith Moore, head librarian at the Royal Society, now has me believing the story is true.

Keith showed me writings by William Stukely, a contemporary of Newton and a guy who seemed bit of a "Newton fanboy".

Newton (left) and 'fanboy' Stukely

Newton (left) and 'fanboy' Stukely

In the hand-written memoirs - which were never formally published - Stukely recalls having tea with Newton in a London "under the shade of some apple trees".

There Newton recalled how, in earlier years, it was in "the same situation" that he saw an apple "descend perpendicularly", etc, etc

The smoking gun?

The smoking gun?

Newton does not say where the famous fall happened.

But many have assumed it was from an apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor, in Lincolnshire, where Newton was from.

Certainly the apple tree - still at Woolsthorpe - has taken on legendary status.

The tree at Woolsthorpe Manor is at the far right of this old picture

The tree at Woolsthorpe Manor is at the far right of this old picture

Wood from the tree has been fashioned into various items.

And, as our video explains, a piece from the tree was taken aboard the space shuttle Atlantis for mission STS-132. I guess it was considered a chance to link Newton with space exploration and his role in understanding gravitation.

See more in the video.

And stay tuned for more videos on Objectivity. It's a new project and your support is appreciated.

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Invoking Feynman

A few days ago it was announced Professor Martyn Poliakoff is to receive a knighthood.

We posted a video about it - and the resulting positive comments and warm congratulations have been extraordinary.

I know Martyn has been overwhelmed by it.

But, as to be expected, some people have been critical of the honours system.

Some of these often seem to centre on the system's (slightly misunderstood) link to monarchy.

Fair enough - everyone is entitled to their opinion. And I hasten to add even the "honour critics" have been very kind to Martyn.

I've been reading YouTube comments long enough to have anticipated such comments. And it is the nature of feedback that negativity lodges in the mind more easily. 

But of particular interest to me is the invocation of Richard Feynman.

I love Feynman as much as the next science nerd - his books, lectures and recorded interviews enthral me.

In one interview he famously said he did not like honours. People latch onto this comment and raise it often.

It certainly plays to Feynman's maverick reputation.

In fact, not long ago, I used the quote myself at the end of video in an anti-honour context!

However there is something many people seem to overlook.

Feynman accepted the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965 (he was not obliged to take it). 

And - when he took receipt of the golden medal - Feynman made a typically colourful and interesting banquet speech. I recommend reading the whole thing. 

In it, he points out that honours can bring joy and inspiration to other people - maybe even complete strangers.

If you don't have time to read it, at least let me share Feynman's closing remarks.

"And so, you Swedish people, with your honors, and your trumpets, and your king - forgive me. For I understand at last - such things provide entrance to the heart. Used by a wise and peaceful people they can generate good feeling, even love, among men, even in lands far beyond your own. For that lesson, I thank you."

 

Sir Martyn Poliakoff

Professor Martyn Poliakoff, from our Periodic Videos series, has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.

The UK Government's citation for Sir Martyn says: 

"Professor Poliakoff is an inorganic chemist, whose work has been taken up by industry, notably in the construction of the world’s first multi-reaction supercritical fluid plant. He is a global leader in the field of green and sustainable chemistry and his work in engaging the public with chemistry has been recognised internationally, including through the Periodic Table of Videos on YouTube. As Vice-President and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, he is a key ambassador for the UK scientific community."

Here's our YouTube video on the news...

And here's a BBC news report on the announcement.

Videos of 2014

It's that time of year, when people post "best of 2014" lists, so here are some from me.

MOST WATCHED OF 2014
1. Cheeseburger in Acid (2012)
2. Cake Cutting
3. Minus a Tweflth
4. Chihuahua Bubbles
5. Dangerous Chemical (2012)

MOST WATCHED OF 2014 (that were uploaded in 2014)
1. Cake Cutting
2. Minus a Tweflth
3. Chihuahua Bubbles
4. Unlock Car with Brain
5. Pi is Beautiful

MOST ATTENTION (ie: total minutes watched)
1. Cake Cutting
2. Minus a Tweflth
3. Cheeseburger in Acid (2012)
4. Real Plutonium (2012)
5. Epic Circles