Category: december 2020

Dramatic video from captures the moment when a 816-tonne platform came crashing down on the Arecibo Observatory, shattering one of the world’s largest telescopes and striking a crushing blow to the global scientific community. The catastrophic collapse happened on Dec. 1, less than two weeks after the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) warned that such a disaster was imminent. The NSF had already shuttered operations at the facility after a suspension cable snapped and slashed a hole in the dish last month. The telescope was the largest of its kind when it opened in 1963, and it has contributed to all manner of astronomical discoveries over the years, from asteroids to planets to mysterious radio signals in space. It also won a place in pop culture as the set for such films as Contact and GoldenEye, the first James Bond movie starring Pierce Brosnan.

“What started out as a fringe conspiracy theory in 2017 has recently spread into the mainstream. Dozens of people linked to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory ran for federal office in 2020, and two were elected to Congress. This CBSN Originals documentary explores how QAnon has taken root amid challenging times and a growing distrust in American institutions, and what it means for the future of the country.

Squamish is a town north of Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. It’s at the northern tip of the island-dotted Howe Sound, and surrounded by mountains like the Stawamus Chief, a huge granite monolith. The Sea to Sky Gondola has views of the sound and nearby Shannon Falls, a towering waterfall cascading down a series of cliffs. Recorded on July 29 2020 and about 1 hr drive from Vancouver.

COVID-19 has got the world on lockdown, quarantined. Coronavirus seems to have affected us all. In these moments, I turn to music. To the simple, timeless power of song. London has a lot of public pianos. Since the coronavirus hit, and COVID lockdown happened, they’ve been locked shut, closed indefinitely. And the streets have become that much more quiet. Nervous stares, heads down, masks on our faces.Luckily I found out that had been forgotten. I dedicate this song to the world. Thank you Stephen Ridley.

Frank Yeomans discusses the primitive appeal of splitting – “We’re good they’re bad” – and what happens when a malignant narcissist is the leader of a group. Both Trump and Hitler are mentioned.

Band Aid performing at Live Aid in front of 72,000 people in Wembley Stadium, London on the 13th July, 1985. The event was organised by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. Broadcast across the world via one of the largest satellite link-ups of all time, the concerts were seen by around 40% of the global population.

“What the hell?” – David Lynch, Veteran Fillamaker

CNN’s Director; Ted Turner in an interview with Carl Sagan, 1989.