Tag: nature

One of the first known images of the Major Oak, according to the RSPB

UK: Robin Hood’s “Major Oak” Dies in Sherwood Forest! (26.8.2026)

If this is the case, then ironically the building was soon “removed” for some reason or other (to be fair, according the maps, there were many places termed “lodges” and they seem common). In recent years, this area was a multi-storey car-park (not far from a cinema and the town centre) but has just been developed into expensive flats. The “Rectory” used to located nearby – but that disappeared decades ago (and was flats for disabled and vulnerable people for awhile). I have spoken to numerous local historians who have no idea as to “why” Sutton is associated with Robin Hood. I came to live here in the early 1990s – and the idea serves as a flowing undercurrent of identity in the area that is never questioned. I have no knowledge as to why this is. Obviously, there may well be a historical connection that nobody remembers today. Be that as it may, surely the English notion of “Socialism” (the redistribution of wealth) has its bases not in (the far later) Marx (who was exiled to 19th century England) – but in Robin Hood’s idea of “robbing from the rich to give to the poor”. Whatever the case, an old tree in Sherwood Forest has finally died after 1200-years of life. Robin Hood and his men are supposed to have met and/or hidden under its branches.

Continue reading

St Paul's Commemorative Coin - 15.6.2026

UK: Climbing the Dome – Surviving the 528-Steps of St Paul’s Cathedral! (16.8.2026)

In fact – although one of the centres of the Church of England (CofE) – there seems to be an element of “Sadomasochism” to it all. As if those Church Authorities watching enjoy the spectacle of the fee-paying faithful (yes – you have to “pay” to voluntarily submit yourself to this madness) – or non-faithful (as the case may be) – inflicting pain upon themselves (a form of self-flagellation). It is the design of this building possesses a nasty side in its design. Who knows – when the Cathedral is closed the Church Fathers might draw pleasure by climbing the steps themselves. Of course, like all things “CofE” – the entire place, although of historical and archaeological importance, is subject to capitalist free market forces. The over-priced gift shop reduces Christianity to fluffy toys and cut book-marks – all over-priced – of course. I suspect that if you actually asked a question about religion – nobody working in there could answer it. Still, history is history, and other than the excessive steps – the history entwined in the stone-work of the building was good for the children to enjoy. At the entry point – the clerk shouted that there was no photography – but then said we could photograph anything we wanted to. So, we never quite worked-out what the rule was – and recorded everything we could see. Finally, when we got to what we thought was the top – it turned out there was actually over another hundred steps to go! In the video I say we had climbed the 528 steps – but I think there was around another 140 to go!

Continue reading

Science Fiction that "Thinks"!

UK: The Genius of Terry Nation’s “Survivors” Series! (4.8.2026)

If you watch, read, or listen, to Terry Nation’s “Survivors” (1975) – you will see civilisation suddenly collapse due to a type of flu that is spread around the world via jet-liners (international travelling being a relatively new phenomena for the masses at the time). The USSR existed then and the US was engaged in a “Cold War” with it at the time (it turns out that illnesses are no respecter of political ideology). The US laughably believed that the Soviets possessed a “weather-altering machine” and would use it to usher-in a new ice-age. To this end, the US government ordered the British government (something of a US lap-dog at the time) to put-out the false propaganda that an “ice-age” was coming! The BBC made disinforming series about this whilst academics happily conformed despite all the data denying this assertion. This was the fake climate change argument of the day – and individuals lost their career when denying it.

Continue reading

The Wyles Family at London Bridge!

UK: The “Engine Room” of London’s Tower Bridge! (1.8.2026)

We visited Tower Bridge on Friday July 31st, 2026. Oddly, none of us had visited this iconic site before. The Engine Room is around a hundred foot or so from the bridge proper (we actually visited the bridge proper – before we approached the Engine Room) – and features the original turbines that lifted the bridge up and down. Although the engineers that built the bridge received ridiculously good wages – the everyday workers who kept the bridge functioning safely on a daily basis received nothing like as good pay. Still, the engine is said to be similar to those found in ships like the Titanic.

Continue reading

Was Stonehenge the Epi-Centre of Hyperborea?

Email: Was Stonehenge the Epicentre of “Hyperborea”? (30.6.2026)

However, I think the Druids may well be pre-Celtic – and yet still existed in Britain when the Romans arrived – living quite happily amongst the Celts. Indeed, the two cultures – the “Druid” and the “Celtic” appear to have peacefully co-existed and nourished one another. Whereas the Druids and Celts viewed the Romans as being “foreign” and “incompatible” – these two cultures viewed one another as mutually reinforcing. Greek explorers probably reached the British Isles a long time ago – when its weather was humid (even tropical), the population small, and the food plentiful. Stonehenge was built around 3000 BCE – so everything was inn-place for an idyllic interpretation and the construction in the Greek imagination of the a mythically “perfect” place. The Greek words “ὑπέρ Βορέᾱ” – can be translated as “Hyper” (“Beyond”) “Borea” (the “North”) – or perhaps “Over the Northern-Sea”.

Continue reading

A screenshot from the Nature website shows the article titled "Optical fiber gripper for high-performance 3D micromanipulation".

China: Scientists Transform Fibre-Optics into “Mini Dexterous Hand”!

The study, published in Nature, introduced a three-dimensional optical fibre gripper that can manipulate opaque particles, irregular micromechanical components and diverse single-cell types. By controlling light input, the microgripper can open, close and adjust its gripping force. Experiments showed it can generate forces more than 100,000 times greater than conventional optical tweezers, enabling high-precision manipulation, microstructure assembly and microscale sampling.

Continue reading

1 2 3 … 14