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My favorite part is the Hawking’s Riff.
As announced this weekend: Here is a transcript of Hawking’s explanation of why he is stepping down as the Lucasian Professor at Cambridge.
“The first thing I should say, is that I’m not retiring. Under Cambridge University regulations, I will no longer be the Lucasian Professor, but I will have a new post as a Director of Research at Cambridge.
I will carry on with my scientific work, and my efforts to explain it to other people. I’m currently working on the quantum creation of the universe, and the rapid inflation in size that followed.
Despite having been unfortunate enough to get motor neurone disease at the age of 21, I have had a full and satisfying life. I have three wonderful children, and have been able to add to our understanding of the universe.
It has been a glorious time to be alive, and doing research in theoretical physics. Our picture of the universe, has changed a great deal in the last 40 years, and I’m happy if I have made a small contribution.
I want to share my excitement and enthusiasm. There’s nothing like the Eureka moment, of discovering something that no-one knew before. I won’t compare it to sex, but it lasts longer.”
From the BBC news:
Europe’s Planck observatory has reached its operating temperature, making it the coldest object in space.
The observatory’s detectors have been chilled to a staggering minus 273.05C – just a tenth of a degree above what scientists term “absolute zero.”
Launched in May, Planck will survey the “oldest light” in the Universe.
Its detectors, or bolometers, should see detail in this radiation that offers new insights into the age, contents and evolution of the cosmos. read more
Enjoy this program by Hawking!
You can watch this mini series on your computer (just don’t let the boss catch you 
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/program-3114.html
The Antennae Galaxies/NGC 4038-4039
These two spiral galaxies began to collide about 300 million years ago. They are some of the youngest and nearest colliding galaxies, giving astronomers one of their best opportunities to study the phenomenon. It may be a preview of what will happen when our galaxy runs into the Andromeda galaxy in a few billion years.
Taken from Wired.com
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