Schools : Professor Stephen Hawking : Google Arts & Culture exhibition & other virtual resources

 

Stephen Hawking

via Financial Times

Anyone, anywhere in the world should have free, unhindered access to not just my research, but to the research of every great and enquiring mind across the spectrum of human understanding."

Stephen Hawking

Happy birthday Professor Stephen Hawking! The cosmic superhero never ceased to amaze his admirers. I am one of his admirer!

As I do during the first week in January every year, I took some time off to relax with family. 

Well, today, 8 January let's talk about Stephen Hawking...

 

• Google Doodle:

Today, 8 January, Google released a Doodle celebrating what would have been Stephen Hawking’s 80th birthday. One of history’s most influential scientific minds, English cosmologist, author, and theoretical physicist. 

From colliding black holes to the Big Bang, his theories on the origins and mechanics of the universe revolutionized modern physics while his best-selling books made the field widely accessible to millions of readers worldwide. 

Stephen Hawking's 80th Birthday

https://www.google.com/doodles/

Google worked with his family to create a video Doodle that gives us a condensed version of his life. Moreover, the tech giant used Hawking's famous computer-generated voice to narrate his work and experiences from the time he graduated. 

The two and a half minute-long video gone live in the US at midnight ET 8 January (9pm PT) and includes a narration in the physicist’s own computer-generated voice (created and used with permission from his estate) outlining his work and painting a message of hope for the future.

"Here’s to an innovator whose astronomical impact changed how the world understands the universe!" 

Doodler Matthew Cruickshank

Stephen Hawking

credit: David Montgomery/ Getty Images

https://www.gettyimages.com/

• Some biographical facts:

As we know, Stephen William Hawking was born on this day in 1942 in Oxford, England. Fascinated by how the universe functioned from a young age, his curiosity and intellect earned him the nickname “Einstein.” 

Following a diagnosis with a neurodegenerative disease at 21, the music of composer Richard Wagner and the loving support of his future wife Jane Wilde motivated Hawking to dedicate himself to physics, math, and cosmology. 

In 1965, Hawking defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Cambridge, Properties of Expanding Universes, which presented the revolutionary theory that space and time originated from a singularity, a point both infinitely small and dense, best known today as the key characteristic of black holes. 

Stephen Hawking

credit: David Montgomery/ Getty Images

https://www.gettyimages.com/

That year, Hawking was accepted as a research fellow at Cambridge’s Gonville and Caius College - his academic home for a lifetime of research. Hawking’s obsession with black holes led to his 1974 discovery that particles could escape black holes. This theory, coined Hawking radiation, is widely considered his most important contribution to physics. 

credit: Menanhem Kahana/ AFP/ Getty Images

https://www.gettyimages.com/

In 1979, Hawking’s groundbreaking work on black holes prompted Cambridge to appoint him as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a position held by Isaac Newton in 1669. Hawking’s doctoral thesis was released to the public in 2017 on a University of Cambridge website, which crashed due to enormous amounts of traffic.

A brief

ster

1st edition (1988)

https://en.wikipedia.org/

In 1988 Hawking catapulted to international prominence with the publication of A Brief History of Time. The short, informative book became an account of cosmology for the masses and offered an overview of space and time, the existence of God and the future. 

The work was an instant success, spending more than four years atop the London Sunday Times' best-seller list. Since its publication, it has sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages. 

Stephen Hawking

credit: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images, 2010

https://www.gettyimages.com/

The scientific icon and cultural figure made tremendous contributions to physics and cosmology, deepening and expanding our understanding of the universe, and the lifecycle of black holes.

He also made grave warnings about the future of the planet.

In recent years, Hawking has implored humanity to keep thinking about the long-term future of our species. He has expressed grave concern about climate change and whether we should consider the advent of artificial intelligence (AR) as a threat to humanity. 

Stephen Hawking

Bedder/Getty Images 

for Breakthrough Prize Foundation

He has said colonizing other planets will be essential for our long-term survival. 

“We are running out of space and the only places to go to are other worlds,” 

Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking

The Royal Society

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/

Education:

"Extraordinary quotes on life and the universe would make a wonderful short animated film. Not only is animation visual, its fundamentals are built on time and space, subjects that align perfectly with cosmology."

Doodler Matthew Cruickshank

Stephen Hawking would've turned 80 on January 8th, 2022 had he still been alive. While he's no longer with us, his contribution to our understanding of the universe remains immense and shouldn't be forgotten. 

As teachers, we can not forget neither our students the physicist and brighter star Stephen Hawking as an innovative mind, a visionary and creative mind in the field of cosmology. 

We must pay tribute to a man who didn't give up diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21. His courage, persistence and scientific work inspired us as global audiences in the millions. 

The message? 

"To approach life with the energy, humor, and optimism that Stephen did every day."

Doodler Matthew Cruickshank

Resources: 

• Infographics

credit: BBC/ Comic Release

via Biography

• Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture is celebrating Stephen Hawking with a new exhibition : "Meet the man who changed our understanding of the Universe!"

"Meet the man who changed our understanding of the Universe!"

https://artsandculture.google.com/

"It can be done!"

Teachers! Here's a wonderful motivation to include Stephen Hawking into your school curricula. Every curriculum! The virtual exhibition on Google Arts & Culture is marvelous. The introduction is so touching! His message of hope to a better understanding of our planet must be seen and heard by our students!

"I have spent my life travelling across the universe inside my mind."

To young students, begin with the video doodle. They will love hear the voice of the scientist. And will follow him.

"Be brave, be curious, be determined!" 

G-Souto

08.01.2022

Copyright © 2022G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 

Schools : Prof. Stephen Hawking : Google Arts & Culture exhibition & other resources ! by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Science : Let's watch 2022 Quadrantid meteor shower peaking January ! Resources

 

meteor shower the Quadrantid

credit. unknown

The night sky will light up this 2022 with the first astronomical event of the year. The meteor shower started already, but according to NASA, it will be at its highest peak tonight, 3 January to 4 January.

New moon aligns with the peak of meteor activity in 2022’s Quadrantid meteor shower, always the year’s first shower. The new moon on January 2 raised and set with the sun and be absent from the night sky, leaving it dark for meteor-watching. 

Astronomical chart showing Bootes the Ploughman holding a spear, a sickle, and two dogs, Asterion and Chara, on leash, also showing a quadrant, and the hair of Berenice forming the constellations

credit: Library of Congress

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/

This long-awaited meteor shower originated from a destroyed comet named 2003 EH1, and will reach an activity of approximately 120 visible stars per hour, which makes the Quadrantids one of the most active of the year, along with the Perseids, in August, and the Geminids in December.

The Quadrantids, which peak during early-January each year, are considered to be one of the best annual meteor showers. Most meteor showers have a two day peak, which makes catching sight of these other meteors much more possible. 

The Quadrantids peak, on the other hand, is much shorter—only a few hours. (The reason the peak is so short is due to the shower's thin stream of particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle.) 

During its peak, 60 to as many as 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions. 

credit: NASA/Christina Koch

Quadrantids are also known for their bright fireball meteors. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of material. Fireballs are also brighter, with magnitudes brighter than -3.

credit: PA Graphics

The Quadrantids are expected to peak on the night of January 3-4. The peak time of the Quadrantids is brief, usually lasting no more than an hour, and does not always occur at the scheduled time. Observers from around the world will have to be vigilant during the night.

https://earthsky.org/

The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks around 21:00 UTC on January 3, 2022 (translate UTC to your time), according to NASA. For viewers in North America, the peak is thus during day time and the best viewing time will be the early morning before the peak (start after midnight when the radiant comes above the horizon). 

The Quadrantids favor the Northern Hemisphere because their radiant is so far north on the sky’s dome. 

If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you might be tempted to resign yourself to the months-long meteor drought that kicks off every year and ends in April with the Lyrids. But, once in awhile, we do hear from Southern Hemisphere dwellers who’ve seen a few Quadrantids.

credit: Getty Images

Education

This time of the year, teachers and students are just starting school after Christmas season.

So, once again, science curriculum will be enhanced with the help of another awesome event in the sky. The Quadrantids!

Do you want a better science lesson ? A live lesson of science. Wow!

Avoid using lights such as torches and mobile phones as this will spoil your adapted night vision. If you really need to, use a red torch or turn your phone’s screen red in the settings.

Resources: 

If you and your students can't watch in loco, here two excellent channels:

• YouTube Virtual Telescope Project.

• website Meteor Showers (three-dimensional view)

 

Hope you will enjoy, as a sky watcher, admiring the beauty of this annual awesome event 

Happy  viewing!

Note: Unfortunately because of clouds, the Quadrantid meteor shower event was regretfully canceled on Virtual Telescope Project.

G-Souto

03.01.2022

update: 04.01.2022

Copyright © 2022G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

sources: NASA/ EarthSky/ Space

Science : Let's watch 2022 Quadrantid meteor shower peaking early January !  Resources ! by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Bright Holiday Season, Shine Bright... Hillcrest Primary School : Sorrow

 

via TIF News

"Shine bright like a diamond. 

You're a shooting star I see"

As we end the trimester, moving through winter solstice toward the returning light, may the Holiday Spirit of the educational community help ease December’s chill.

I stand in sorrow & sympathy with the Hillcrest Primary School community. My heart and thoughts are with the families of those children who lost their lives on last 15 December or are still in hospital. 

What started as a joyful day of celebration ended with the entire Tasmanian community stunned & heartbroken.

credits: Twitter/NickMcCallum7

The deaths of six children after a jumping castle was lifted into the air from strong winds at a school end-of-year celebration as condolences flowed into the grieving small coastal city.

The sixth student has died last 19 December, after Hillcrest Primary School's end of year celebration event.

Four boys and two girls aged between 11 and 12 died in the accident which saw children fall 10 metres (33 feet) to the ground at a school in Devonport in the northwest of the island state of Tasmania. 

It was one of Australia's deadliest accidents involving an amusement ride.

credits: EPA

As a teacher, I believe that children, parents, teachers and families of Hillcrest Primary School must keep their privacy.

I have no words, I was devastated, absolutely devastated, still am. I had no words.

Holiday season is here. Christmas season is children's big dream. What can I say?

Tributes have begun pouring in online for the beloved students who are remembered as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'.

credits: NCA Newswire / Grant

Rise of the Guardians, a lovely and original tale, came to my mind. Again. After Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The beautiful 3D animated film would be a sweet tribute in the memories of children.

Rise of the Guardians  also tells us to hold on to that child inside us as we go through life, and to believe in ourselves no matter what.

credits: EPA

The tragedy which occurred is beyond comprehension. It is devastating, heartbreaking. It is just simply incomprehensible.

Addison, 11, Zane, 12, Jye, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree, 12, Peter, 12 and Chace, 11.  How sad! Sorrow.

'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart," 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

credits: via Facebook

The immediate priority is supporting the children, families and staff who had been impacted.

The tragedy which occurred is beyond comprehension. It is devastating, heartbreaking. It is just simply incomprehensible.

Let's raise our deepest thoughts with sorrow to their parents, families, young classmates and teachers. And let's sing "Shine bright like a diamond."

"It is our job to watch over the children of the world and keep them safe. For as long as they believe in us, we will guard them with our lives." 

North, Rise of the Guardians

Wishing everyone a Bright Holiday Season! Hug each other, hug your children, deeply and often.

G-Souto

24.12.2021

copyright © 2021G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com

Bright Holiday Season, Shine Bright... Hillcrest Primary School : Sorrow G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.