-
From Orkney to Space: For Schools and Community
Night skies above us and the latest developments in space science are the subject of forthcoming schools and community presentations in Orkney. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh are joining together with staff from the
-
Dark skies and bright vision
Among her many community activities in North Ronaldsay, Kathleen Scott coordinated events each year for Orkney International Science Festival and the British Science Association – talks, workshops, night sky photography competitions, and an astronomy weekend.
-
Gravitational waves – and the Papay connection
Three men are recognised as the pioneers of the LIGO system for detecting gravitational waves, one of the greatest physics discoveries of all time. And it turns out that one of them has Orkney ancestry
-
Kitchener and the Hampshire
A new book on the sinking of HMS Hampshire a hundred years ago has been published. Julie Anya Guthrie welcomes it and reflects on the story of Lord Kitchener and the loss of the ship.
-
Fashion the Future!
The window of a former Orkney clothing shop is back in action with costumes this week. Aislin, Nyx, Nehalennia and Calypso were specially created for the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. Croy’s shop in
-
Earth-sized planet found at nearest star
It’s been found – a planet that may be suitable for life as we know it, orbiting the nearest star. The star itself, dwarf called Proxima Centauri, gets its name from its nearness to us
-
On Elephant Island
On 30 August 1916 the Shackleton expedition was rescued from Elephant Island, where they had spent several months in grim conditions after their ship Endurance has been caught and crushed in the ice. Martin Gray
-
Pulsars to porridge
Porridge and pulsars are combined in the life of Simon Rookyard, the World Porridge Making Champion – and he will be bringing both together at this year’s Orkney International Science Festival. Just weeks before winning
-
The Ultimate Exploration: Interstellar Flight
Let’s go to the stars! Human interstellar flight is a problem with significant challenges. The possible approaches to an interstellar journey range from “slow” travel, at 1% of the speed of light or less, where
On 30 August 1916 the Shackleton expedition was rescued from Elephant Island, where they had spent several months in grim conditions after their ship Endurance has been caught and crushed in the ice. Martin Gray [...]
You’ll know it when you see it, with its delicate mauve petals and yellow centre, its short stalk rising from the little rosette of green leaves. It’s a little distance back from the sea-cliffs, tucked [...]
Night skies above us and the latest developments in space science are the subject of forthcoming schools and community presentations in Orkney. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh are joining together with staff from the [...]
Like a Nordic port of old, the Faroese capital of Torshavn smells evocatively of salt and tar. As we disembark the ferry, the harbour waters lap beneath the modest parliament building with its turf roof [...]
.
.
.
All material copyright © 2013 OISF and contributors individually.