BBC posted some great, real-time video and audio of the space shuttle taking off today, famously carrying the Stephen Colbert exercise bicycle into space. This video makes me think that if NASA focused more on producing excellent video of everything they do, they might find their budgets increasing.

via BBC

Queue the scary music. Eye the water nervously. Scream into the megaphone, “SHARK WEEK!” Yes, now in its glorious 22nd year, discovery channel’s Shark week kicks off August 2nd. Last year I scarcely left the couch as I let myself become fascinated by every aspect of our scariest predators.  Most memorable was an interview with a shark expert, held  in shallow water, all while small sharks circled round. Half way through the interview, a shark bit off his calf, and we watched as 80% of his blood left his body in a matter of seconds and the crew worked desperately to save him.  He lived, and at the end of the documentary he runs into the sunset (sans calf).  This year expect to see John Kerry pitching conversation and protection throughout the week, although we will see if he is brave enough to get in the water.  Since last year I have been saying, “Live every week like it’s shark week. ” Now that it is upon us, I suggest we all get out a new  shiny row of teeth (for the popcorn).

Photo by H. Michael Karshis on Flickr, CC-BY, found via Everystockphoto.com

Hummingbird Diving In Action from Science News on Vimeo.

Today wired covered some promising hummingbird bot development, which is looking really impressive (and just got more funding). One wonders how such a thing would be powered for long period of time, but first things first.

Volcano in the Kuril Islands as viewed from the International Space Station

via Discovery

What happens when scientists get their hands on a 76-teraflop supercomputer? Wired reports that this mind-boggling CPU power was used to create a simulation of a sunspot, modelling the sun’s magnetic processes at work over a region 31,000 miles by 62,000 miles, and with a depth of 3,700 miles. That is a lot of sun action – and we can just be thankful that the output is so completely gorgeous. Check out wired for the full story.