The European Space Agency’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite was launched on 17 March 2009. Its mission is to orbit the Earth while performing very high resolution measurements of Earth’s gravity field. GOCE will, over 24 months in orbit, provide a map of Earth’s “geoid” (that is, its idealised shape – smooth but irregular – based on the varying strength of gravity accross the globe) with an accuracy of just 1-2 cm in altitude and 100 km accross. The GOCE map Continue reading →

The most advanced character import system in a videogame belongs to Mass Effect 2 (Bioware, 2010), which tracks over 400 possible variables from save games in its prequel, Mass Effect (Bioware, 2007). Featured in Guinness World Records Gamers Edition 2011

A new biometric system, from the Hitachi Company, (Japan), which is able to identify people from the unique pattern of veins inside their fingers, has been introduced into security systems in Europe and Japan. It is the fastest, and most secure, biometric method of identifying people. A near infrared light penetrates the body tissue and is reflected in the haemoglobin of the blood. A special camera captures the vein pattern through the reflected light. Further processing enables this to be compared to a stored image Continue reading →

The Eurojet EJ200 production programme is contracted to produce more than 1,400 engines for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft. It is the largest military engine production programme under contract in the world today (January 2008). The aircraft is the world´s most advanced multi-swing role aircraft currently in service with the air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. The engine provides 90 kN (20,000 lbf) of power with afterburner and 60kN (13,500 lbf) without.

Combining a strategic, unrefuelled range of 2,400 nautical miles with a payload of 169,000 pounds (78,657kg), a speed of 450knots (Mach 0.76), and an ability to airdrop 102 paratroops with their equipment as well as being able to operate on small airfields with runways as short as 3,500 feet (1,064 metres), the C-17 Globemaster is the most advanced military airlifter in service today. With almost 190 operational worldwide, they are in use with the air forces of the USA, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Continue reading →

Two-times Olympic hockey champion Teun de Nooijer (Netherlands) has made 431 appearances for the Netherlands between 1994 and 25 January 2011.

Saeed Jaffrey has appeared in 18 international films, including Gandhi (UK, 1982), A Passage To India (UK, 1984) , Masala (Canada, 1991) and My Beautiful Launderette (UK, 1985). He made his film debut in the 1977 Indian film The Chess Players (Shatranj Ke Khiladi) and has appeared in almost 100 Hindi films and one Punjabi film. In 1998 Jaffrey opted out of Indian commercial cinema in favour of acting in international films and on British television. He recently became part of the first Asian family Continue reading →

Steve Bucknor (b. 31 May 1946, Jamaica) has officiated at a total of 128 Test matches, between 28 April 1989 – 22 March 2009.

The Annie Awards have been presented by the International Animated Film Association in Los Angeles, California, USA, since 1972 and celebrate the best in animation. Three movies have had a record 16 nominations, each winning 10 awards: The Incredibles (USA, 2004), Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (UK, 2005), and Kung Fu Panda (USA, 2008).

Dennis Walter Conner (USA) (b. 16 Sep 1942) has been in more cup races as a member of the afterguard than any other sailor, six times since 1974, when he was starting helmsman with Ted Hood as skipper. He was winning skipper/helmsman in 1980, 1987 and 1989. he was losing skipper in 1983 and 1995. Bradley William Butterworth (NZL), OBE (b. 9th April 1959) won the Cup four times in succession as tactician, on the way setting a record of sixteen for the most consecutive Continue reading →