The 21st Century Race for Space

Today on Far Future Horizons we present “The 21st Century Race for Space” hosted by Brian Cox.

Searching for the Star of Bethlehem

O star of wonder, star of light,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Today on Far Future Horizons we go in search of the Star of Bethlehem.

Astronomers, theologians, sceptics and believers have pondered the story of Christ’s birth and the star of Bethlehem. 

Over two thousand years ago, a bright star showed three Magi the path to the newborn Jesus. What was that star? Was it a star or was it something else?

In the deepest sense it scarcely matters, for what is most significant about the Star of Bethlehem is not whether it existed or what it was, but what it symbolizes. For those of us who grew up in the Christian tradition it represents a message of hope and the dawning of a new ethical philosophy by which we choose to conduct our lives.

For me personally the story of Jesus' birth and the Adoration of the Magi symbolises hope.

On behalf of all of us here on Far Future Horizons I would like to wish our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous  New Year.

May We All Find Peace and Prosperity here on our planetary home - The Good Earth.

Star of Wonder

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the final installment of “The Universe Ancient Mysteries Solved”.   

What was the astronomical reality behind the star that, according to the Gospel of Matthew, guided the Magi to the young Jesus? This episode examines almost twenty centuries of  theories and speculation concerning the Star of Bethlehem.

Sherlock Holmes: The True Story

Join us on Far Future Horizons in celebration of Sherlock Holmes' birthday. The game is afoot as we go in search of the real life inspiration behind Arthur Conan Doyle’s - Sherlock Holmes.

A leading Nineteenth Century professor of medicine, Dr. Joseph Bell was a pioneer in a new science that later would be known as forensic medicine. Joseph Bell is the real life model for the greatest fictional detective in history. And it was he who inspired his student, Arthur Conan Doyle to create the world’s greatest literary legend of all time.

Prophets of Science Fiction - Arthur C. Clarke

Today on Far Future Horizons we commemorate the memory and centennial birthday of Science Fiction writer and visionary Arthur C. Clarke with an episode from the acclaimed documentary series Prophets of Science Fiction. 

Executive Producer Ridley Scott presents Prophets of Science Fiction.

The "Science Fiction" of the past has now simply become "Science". And the science of the future was strangely prophesied by a group of visionaries whose dreams once may have deemed them renegades and "mad scientists," have become reality!

Carl Sagan - A Cosmic Celebrity

Today on Far Future Horizons we commemorate the eighty-third birthday of Carl Sagan and are proud to present a biographical documentary concerning his life.

Carl Sagan was the rarest of all creatures - the celebrity scientist. While some accused him of being a grandstander, none can deny that his approach to science helped introduce millions of people to the great wonders of the universe that fascinated him all his life.

He played many different roles - professor, working scientist, bestselling author and TV personality. In his classic television series Cosmos, he brought science to the masses in an accessible, entertaining format. 

Eyes in the Sky

Today on Far Future Horizons we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Space Age. 


On October 4^th, 1957 Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, was launched and humanity entered the Space Age. 

To mark the occasion we will focus our attention on those ever present orbital sentinels and eyes in the sky that have become the indispensable tools of our technological civilization – the artificial satellite. Earth observation satellites continually monitor our world’s weather, environment and human activity (both civilian and military). Telecommunication satellites are the nerve cells of the twenty-first century’s telecommunications network.

Since October 4^th, 1957, with the launching of Sputnik I, satellites have transformed our world into a global village. As we enter the second phase of the Space Age we can expect satellites to play an ever increasing role in serving and maintaining human civilization in the areas of long term weather forecasting, global surveillance and perhaps even in controlling the world’s weather and climate.

To explore the role of the artificial satellite in our modern world we look back in time to the dawn of the space age with two very informative documentaries: Disney's Eyes in Outer Space (1959) and NOVA's Sputnik Declassified.

The entire collection of Walt Disney Treasures - Tomorrow Land: Disney in Space and Beyond is available on DVD from Amazon.com.

NOVA's Sputnik Declassified can be purchased on DVD from PBS Home video.

Space 1999 ~ Breakaway

Today marks the Eighteenth anniversary of a special date in SciFi History. On Monday September 13^th , 1999 in the SciFi Universe of Gerry Anderson’s TV series Space: 1999 a massive thermonuclear explosion tears the Moon from Earth’s orbit.

The Age of Robots ~ Entertainment Robots

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the sixth and final episode of the acclaimed documentary series – The Age of Robots.

In this instalment we will look at the technology behind entertainment robots.

The Age of Robots ~ The Bionic Man

 

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the fifth and penultimate episode of the acclaimed documentary series – The Age of Robots.

The Bionic Heart

In this instalment we will look at the technology behind Bionics to create a real Six Million Dollar Man.

The Age of Robots ~ Robot Explorers

Today on Far Future Horizons we proud to present the fourth episode of the acclaimed documentary series “The Age of Robots”.

This instalment looks at the use of robots in exploring the extreme frontiers of the Earth, Sea and Space.

The Age of Robots ~ City of the Future

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the third episode of “The Age of Robots”.

By the year 2050, three quarters of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Robots will be a large component of the city of the future.

The Age of Robots ~ Bioinspired Robots

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the second episode of “The Age of Robots”.

In this instalment, we look at robots whose design was inspired by biology, evolution and the natural world.

The Age of Robots ~ Humanoid Robots

Today on Far Future Horizons we introduce an exciting new six part series titled “The Age of Robots”.

In the first episode of this series we will look at humanoid robots.

The Battle for Malta

Today on Far Future Horizons to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Operation Pedestal we present the BBC Two documentary The Battle for Malta.

Historian James Holland presents a fresh analysis of the World War Two battle for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta.

Operation Pedestal ~ Malta’s Miracle of August 15, 1942

Operation Pedestal: Depicted, Tanker Ohio being attacked by Savoia Marchetti SM79's and Ju 88's The Cruiser is HMS Charybdis.

Today marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Operation Pedestal, a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies in North Africa. In 1941–42, Malta was effectively under siege, blockaded by Axis air and naval forces. To sustain Malta, the United Kingdom had to get convoys through at all costs. Despite serious losses, just enough supplies were delivered for Malta to survive, although it ceased to be an effective offensive base for much of 1942. The most crucial supply was fuel delivered by the SS Ohio, an American-built tanker with a British crew. The operation started on August 9^th, 1942, when the convoy sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Can We Hack the Planet?

Today on Far Future Horizons we present another episode of the acclaimed documentary series “Through the Wormhole” hosted by veteran actor Morgan Freeman.

Humanity is under threat from storms that seem to get ever fiercer, earthquakes that seem ever more deadly, and killer viruses that are engulfing the globe.

James Burke on the Moon

Today on Far Future Horizons we continue to commemorate the forty-eighth anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing with two retrospective documentaries presented by BBC veteran science journalist and science historian James Burke ten years after the event.

“Apollo 11: Remastered” - An Orbiter Film

The versatility of the Orbiter Space Simulator is truly amazing. I first wrote about this free space simulator program in my recent article "For All You Armchair Astronauts". Here is awe inspiring film made by TexFilms using Orbiter.

In “Apollo 11: Remastered” we can all vicariously embark on the epic voyage of Apollo 11 from launch to splashdown and relive this grand adventure. This film is a remake of TexFilms original Apollo 11 release featuring Orbiter Space Flight Simulator and AMSO Apollo addon.

Modern Marvels - Apollo 11

Today on Far Future Horizons we highlight the greatest scientific and technological achievement in living memory – Apollo 11 and the first manned Moon landing.

Modern Marvels - Apollo 11 chronicles the trials and tribulations of the Apollo program and its ascent to glory as the Apollo 11 crew touched down on the Moon's surface.

With insightful narration, interviews with Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Flight Director Gene Kranz, NASA experts, scientists and engineers, the program winds through the evolution of the space program from President Kennedy’s famous congressional address to the stories of personal sacrifice necessary for Apollo’s success.