Audio for Movies is an Interesting Process

Likely coming in the DVD extras package, this featurette is all about how the sounds were created for the latest Transformers movie. Some interesting tricks and processes.

A couple of minor spoilers, but interesting stuff. It's obviously an astounding amount of work.

SoundWorks Collection: The Sound of Transformers: Dark of the Moon from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.

The Science of Aurora Borealis

This 5 minute production is a fascinating look at how the Aurora Borealis comes to our view.

The most interesting description of the Northern Lights (as I grew up knowing them) was "giant belches of plasma shooting outward toward our little rock."

The Aurora Borealis from Per Byhring on Vimeo.

Via Gizmodo.

Who Loves Coffee?

Well.... I do.

A quick, short film about coffee, why it's great, why it's wonderful, and why you should drink it.

Watch this while I go get a cup.

SETI Shuts Down - Unsuccessful Alien Contacts

SETI, by far the largest experiment to locate other beings in space, has shut down permanently as the US Government pulls funding for the massive project.

Is it any coincidence after 'Battle: Los Angeles' and 'District: 9'?

SETI is still collecting private donations in hopes of resurrection, but it's a long show.

Gizmodo has the details here.



*Update*: Jodi Foster, among others, have rallied to save the project, at least in the short term.
http://gizmodo.com/5830443/jodie-foster-helps-reactivate-the-search-for-extra+terrestrial-life

SpaceShipTwo's Impressive Test Flight

The soon-to-retire NASA Space Shuttle Program will not only mark the end of an era in space travel, but start another in commercialized space flight. Hot on the market is Virgin, who is well into testing of their SpaceShipTwo models.

Gizmodo has video of the most recent test of this remarkable vehicle, with the pertinent details of the new ship. It's impressive!

See the video here.

Google Extends the Cloud

A proponent of the cloud concept, Google's I/O conference was littered with cloud-based concepts, ideas, and products. Among the most interesting are the Chromebooks, essentially cloud netbooks. Chromebooks are designed to be online full time, very little on-board storage, simplicity of concept.

Cnet has a look:

Work on Desktop, Save in the Cloud

One of the more difficult things about moving to cloud computing is the comfort we have with Office products, after years of use. This familiarity is comforting, but it lacks the backup and accessibility benefits of the cloud.

Google docs, long touted as the cloud alternative to Office, has released "Google Cloud Connect" that allows for automatic synchronization of Office documents to Google Docs. With this add on program, the comfort of Office programs is combined with the backup and sharing of cloud documents.

NASA Shows Us the World

To celebrate http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifEarth Day '11, NASA put together the 20 more amazing pictures of our planet. Some breathtaking views included.

Cnet news has the images here.

Formula 1 Steering Wheel

Even non-racing fans can appreciate the complexity and sophistication of a Formula 1 car, and, in this case, the driver's wheel. Amazing amount of stuff crammed into such a precise space.




Video via Wired.

Imperial Holding Out

Here's a map of countries officially NOT using the metric system.



Beauty. Credit to ZME Science.