Astronaut’s ‘Space Oddity’ music video goes viral
A music video shot aboard the International Space Station recently went viral, turning an astronaut into an overnight music sensation with his zero-gravity version of David Bowie’s hit Space Oddity.
As the first Canadian to command the space station, a $100 million project of 15 nations, Chris Hadfield had already earned himself a place in the history books. But as he prepared to return home after more than five months in orbit, Hadfield released a poignant “cyberspace” rendition of Bowie’s song, which was first released in 1969 just ahead of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The video was being touted as the first music video ever filmed in space. Hadfield’s singing and acoustic guitar playing is accompanied by stunning video of the space station flying around the planet, a guitar free-floating and an eerie shot of a spacesuit at night. The music video is not Hadfield’s first public performance. He is the lead vocalist and bass guitar player in the Houston-based all-astronaut rock band, Max Q. (Reuters)
Woman allegedly threatens neighbour over foul odour
A Massachusetts woman upset by a foul odour emanating from her neighbour’s house is in hot water after allegedly threatening to hit the neighbour with a plunger. According to media reports Irene Cohen, 44, was released on personal recognisance after she pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
The alleged incident took place last week. The neighbour told police that Cohen was angry over some plumbing work that had caused a bad smell to waft from the property. According to police reports, Cohen did admit to arguing with the neighbour over the smell, but denied using a plunger in a threatening manner. (Yahoo News)
USjustices play Shakespeare tragedy for laughs
US Supreme Court justices on a recent evening sought laughs rather than legal clarity as they weighed a tragic case concerning a despotic Roman general and his overbearing mother.
The three justices were taking part in a mock trial at Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre based on William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, a bleak tragedy set in ancient Rome that was being staged at the theatre.
It’s an annual tradition for justices to participate in the event.
This year, they were Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Samuel Alito and four appeals court judges. In the case, prominent Washington lawyers lisa Blatt and Seth Waxman represented a British-style tabloid newspaper and Coriolanus’ estate respectively. The estate sought damages for the newspaper’s attacks on the general.
The court ruled in favour of the newspaper. The margin was 5-2 in the fictitious libel case based on the play, with Ginsburg and the appeals judges in the majority. (Reuters)
Plants communicate with each other via underground fungi
A new study has demonstrated that plants can use an underground network of fungi to warn each other about incoming insect attacks.
Carried out by researchers from the University of Aberdeen, the James Hutton Institute and Rothamsted Research, the study demonstrated that the plants are able to send warnings of incoming aphids to other plants connected to their network. The plants then send out a chemical signal that repels aphids and attracts wasps, a natural aphid predator. The research follows previous findings that have shown plants can communicate similar chemical warnings through the air. The new study says plants can connect with other via a common fungus known as mycorrhizae.
University of Aberdeen’s David Johnson said, “Our understanding of ecological systems has not considered the fact that plants are interconnected in this way. It could have major implications for our understanding of how one organism affects another.” (Yahoo News)
UN encourages people to eat more insects
The UN has some advice for the starving people of the world that might bug you. Eating insects might just be the future of food. A new report from the UN says that eating insects (high in protein, low in fat) can help fight global warming, pollution, and yes, hunger. And if the suggestion catches on, it could even be great for small businesses.
The concept of eating insects as part of a regular diet, known as entomophagy, is already being practised by an estimated two billion people, according to the report. There are reportedly more than 1,900 edible insect species. The international governing body suggested people try red ants, bees, caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts wasps and certain types of water beetles. And the UN is looking to insects for more than food. A recent $100,000 was given by the organisation to study whether South African flies can be used to transform blood, manure and other organic waste into animal feed. (Yahoo News)