Sci-fi has always been my favourite movie genre.
I guess I got the bug as a seven-year-old when Star Wars hit the big screens – what a movie!
Like every kid at that time, I dreamed of having a lightsaber and riding on the Millennium Falcon spacecraft.
I still find myself watching it every now and again; it offers gripping escapism that has always fuelled my interest in the planets and outer space.
Space movies always fire up my imagination and make me wonder if there is life in other parts of the galaxy.
Surely there has to be some other life form out there?
In any case, our understanding of the solar system is advancing at a relentless pace.
The recent comet landing had us all on the edge of our seats and could now give us an insight into the possible role of comets in contributing some of the chemical building blocks from which life evolved on the early earth.
Scientists faced a race against time to perform as many tests as possible before the Philae lander’s battery ran out, after touching down on the Comet 67P on 12 November.
However it seems that the 10-year journey has been a success, after it was confirmed last week that the Philae lander has detected organic molecules on the surface of the comet.
Carbon-containing organics are the basis of life on earth and could give an insight into the chemical ingredients delivered to our planet. Other tests suggest the comet’s surface is water-ice covered with a thin dust layer.
Even though its battery has been exhausted, scientists are now hopeful that as the comet approaches the Sun in coming months, Philae’s solar panels will see sunlight again. This might allow the batteries to re-charge, and enable the lander to perform science once more.
Further space news that caught my eye last week was the announcement that British space scientists are now planning an ambitious mission to the Moon.
Lunar Mission One is aiming to send a robotic probe to drill up to 100m below the Moon’s surface, by 2024.
The only catch is that it is going to cost £500m, and the team behind the project is asking the public to help them raise the money through an innovative crowdfunding campaign.
Broadcaster and scientist Brian Cox is backing the project, claiming that the Moon is the obvious stepping stone to exploring space.
One of the aspects that interests me is that those who back the project will be able to contribute to time capsules that will be buried on the Moon – how cool is that?
Founder of the project David Iron summed it up perfectly when he said that people want to be able to look up into the sky and say, “There’s a bit of me up there.”
It is widely believed that the Moon was formed when a collision between Earth and an object the size of Mars 4.5 million years ago blew off a large chunk of debris.
If this theory is correct, the Moon can be viewed as a preserved piece of planet Earth.
The aim of this mission will be to confirm this theory and give scientists further insight into the formation of Earth.
It is absolutely incredible and a project that the public should certainly get behind.
The news comes at a time when space travel is opening up with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, which he claims will take off in Autumn this year, despite a co-pilot being killed in the crash of his SpaceShipTwo in the Mojave Desert last month.
Of course it is reserved for the privileged for now, with tickets being priced at £250,000.
However if the programme is successful, I fully expect space tourism to become more affordable by the middle of the century.
As I said, the world continues to advance at a relentless rate – maybe lightsabers and supersonic space jets won’t be the preserve of the movies after all.
Contest is Skills Booster
Engineering and manufacturing has historically been an important industry within Scotland, with shipbuilding on the Clyde and steelworks at Ravenscraig firmly in our heritage.
Our career landscape has transformed dramatically over the past 30 years, but engineering and manufacturing skills are still of great importance in Scotland. A recent report has warned that there is still a large skills gap in the UK and that more support is needed for such industries.
This is an issue in many industries across Scotland, but I am confident that it is one that is being tackled in Scotland with great priority.
Just last week I heard about eight students from the Lanarkshire area who took part in WorldSkills UK – the largest skills show in the UK – and subsequently brought home eight medals.
The students, from New College Lanarkshire, won four gold medals, three silver and one bronze – with another four students being highly commended. The college topped the leader board and earned the title ‘Best in the UK’ for the second year running.
The students competed across a number of skills, from hairdressing to network infrastructure, web development to electrical installation.
Aiming to “drive excellence in workplace skills through competition,” the skills show brought together 580 apprentices from over 500 organisations to battle it out in 64 skills categories.
It is events like these that must continue to engage with the people of Scotland to ensure that the skills gap is filled and that more of our young people are encouraged to not only gain new skills, but work to the best of their ability in them.
I applaud all the educational institutions, apprenticeship schemes and workplaces which took part in the skills show, and commend New College Lanarkshire and its students for their successes.
It Made Me Laugh: Bus Will Drop the Kids Off
I am constantly amazed at the wonderful way in which scientists are working towards making our planet more sustainable – but something caught my eye this week that I couldn’t help but have a chuckle at.
The UK’s first bus powered entirely by human and food waste began its service between Bristol and Bath.
The bio-bus even has cartoons on the side of people on the pan. A hilarious concept, but a work of genius if you ask me.
The 40-seater runs on biomethane gas generated through the treatment of sewage and food waste, with one tank of gas using about the waste of roughly five people.
Anything that helps our environment is a thumbs up from me – hopefully it doesn’t get dumped!
It Made Me Weep: Thefts at the Hydro
Since the opening of the Hydro in 2013, the venue has been a great success, and even named one of the top entertainment venues in the world.
So it was very sad to read that several gangs of pickpockets have been targeting the arena.
Dozens of mobile phones were reported stolen following a Kasabian gig while thousands of fans enjoyed the show.
It’s a shame that after such a successful year for Glasgow, a small minority are still using these opportunities to commit crimes.
We attracted mammoth crowds to what was known as ‘the best games ever’ and showcased our city as a friendly and safe city to be in.
I hope that this minority of criminal gangs remains a minority, and Glasgow continues to flourish in the reputation that it has so strongly built for itself.
