The International Dark Sky Association has named Utah’s Natural Bridges National Monument as the first Dark Sky Park – that is, an area in which the night sky can be viewed clearly, without any “light pollution”. Up to two-thirds of humanity lives under light pollution according to the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute. Simple steps such as covering the tops of street lights can help remedy the problem.

In November 2001, astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to detect light passing through the atmosphere at the edge of the planet HD 209458b as it passed in front of its star. Spectral analysis of this light revealed the presence of sodium in the atmosphere of this scorched gas giant, which orbits its star in just 3.5 days. Subsequent observations of this planet have suggested the presence of water vapour in its atmosphere.

Designed to allow operators to neutralise targets such as roadside bombs and other unexploded ordnance at a safe distance (300 metres, 984 ft), the first battlefield ray gun, or direct energy weapon, has now been deployed to an active theatre of operations, probably Iraq. It is called Zeus, after the Greek god of sky and thunder. It is not designed to kill. Currently, explosives, such as that contained in rocket-propelled grenades, are often used but these can miss and are expensive. Up to about 12 Continue reading →

In 2009, Stephen Daldry (UK) became the first director to receive Academy Award nominations for Best Director from his first three films. The Reader (USA, 2009), The Hours (USA, 2002) and Billy Elliot (UK, 2000) were all shortlisted for an Oscar but all failed to win the award.

First direct lunar hit The first direct hit on the Moon was achieved 2min 24sec after midnight (Moscow time) on 14 Sep 1959, by the Soviet space probe Luna II near Mare Serenitatis.

The earliest collection of written articles about medicinal herbs and plants is the De Materia Medica, compiled by the Greek surgeon, Pedanios Dioscorides, in approximately 77 AD. Dioscorides was a Greek physician from modern-day Turkey who gathered his information during travels through Europe and North Africa with the Roman army of Emperor Nero. De Materia Medica was originally written in Greek, and was separated into five sections which covered the themes of: (1) medicinal plants, (2)animals, dairy products and cereals (e.g honey, milk), (3)herbs, juices, Continue reading →

The world’s first dollar billionaire was John D Rockefeller (USA, 1839–1937). He made his fortune in the oil business and was worth an estimated $1.4 billion (£0.28 billion) at his death.

Eddie Silbon (UK) achieved the first double back somersault at the Paris Hippodrome, Paris, France in 1879.

The earliest domestication dogs (Canis familiaris) is thought to have been done by Palaeolithic humans in east Asia, approximately 15,000 years ago, as they successfully bred aggression out of wolves (Canis lupus). Much of the genetic research by Peter Savolainen (Sweden) of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, found that due to the high genetic diversity of dogs in east Asia, it suggested that these dogs had been domesticated the longest. The domestication of dogs preceeded that of other animals such as sheep, Continue reading →

Nigel Mansell (UK) made history by becoming the first rookie to win the IndyCar championship, in 1993. Mansell was also the 1992 Formula One World Driving Champion, making him the first driver ever to win both titles in consecutive seasons.