The mainstream isn’t all there is. It isn’t even the best of what there is. A rich harvest awaits those prepared to venture into the literary edgelands looking for stories to read. For the rare bloom in stony ground. The jewelled shell in the tide pool.
From First Light to Cosmic Detail: Andromeda Then & Now
In 1888, one of the first photographs of the Andromeda Galaxy captured only a faint, blurry glow. Today, advanced telescopes and imaging technology reveal Andromeda in breathtaking detail—showing its spiral arms, star-forming regions, dust lanes, and billions of stars. This comparison highlights 127 years of progress in astronomy and astrophotography.
Credits: Harvard College Observatory (1888), NASA ESA, Hubble Space Telescope
Today, being the first day of Meteorological Summer, I bring you the covers of the 4 seasons books.
But which is your favourite?
My favourite season is Spring (but my favourite of these books is probably Autumn)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
For anyone who needs reminding that Scotland really is a fantastic, magical place, here are some singing seals I saw - and recorded 🎤!!! - on the island of Mingulay today 🦭🏴🎶
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN was released 44 years ago today. Acclaimed as the best entry in the Star Trek film series, and featuring one of the biggest movie deaths, the story behind the scenes doesn’t believe in no-win scenarios…
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Spock’s death in Wrath of Khan (1982) is still peak sci-fi heartbreak.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… or the one.”
Quiet dignity. Final Vulcan salute. Pure sacrifice. Leonard Nimoy nailed it. This scene changed Star Trek forever.