The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind — fantastic new book about a how a Malawian teenager harnessed the power of the wind – Boing Boing

“Using Energy described how windmills could be used to generate electricity. Only two percent of Malawians have electricity, and the service is notoriously unreliable. William decided an electric windmill was something he wanted to make. Illuminating his house and the other houses in his village would mean that people could read at night after work. A windmill to pump water would mean that they could grow two crops a year rather than one, grow vegetable gardens, and not have to spend two hours a day hauling water. “A windmill meant more than just power,” he wrote, “it was freedom.”

(Via Boing Boing.)

When you visit the TEDTalks website there is a little button on the bottom for downloading the video as a Mp4. I have already popped it into iTunes so I can show some teachers at school today!

TED | Talks | Roy Gould: WorldWide Telescope

“Science educator Roy Gould gives an astonishing sneak preview of Microsoft’s new WorldWide Telescope — a technology that combines feds from satellites and telescopes all over the world and the heavens, and builds a comprehensive view of our universe. (Yes, it’s the technology that made Robert Scoble cry.)”

(Via TED Talks.)

So what do you think?

I know I will be outside for this. Hopefully it is a clear night!

Full Lunar Eclipse for the Americas on Wednesday

“‘It will be the last lunar eclipse until December 2010, and it should be spectacular. Shades of turquoise and red will pour over the moon’s surface as it moves into the Earth’s shadow around 8:43pm EST. As NASA reports: ‘Transiting the shadow’s core takes about an hour. The first hints of red appear around 10 pm EST (7 pm PST), heralding a profusion of coppery hues that roll across the Moon’s surface enveloping every crater, mountain and moon rock, only to fade away again after 11 pm EST (8 pm PST). No special filter or telescope is required to see this spectacular event. It is a bright and leisurely display visible from cities and countryside alike. While you’re watching, be alert for another color: turquoise. Observers of several recent lunar eclipses have reported a flash of turquoise bracketing the red of totality … The source of the turquoise is ozone.’ So, all of you amateur astronomers need to get out there and take pictures. It might be worthwhile sharing them on sites like SpaceWeather or Flickr so that our Asian, European, African, and Australian brethren can witness the sight as well.”

(Via Slashdot.)