| Bang Goes the Theory | Gilbert And Sullivan: A Motley Pair | Time Shift: The North On A Plate | Mad Men | Derren Brown Live | Words Of The Blitz | Tonight's TV highlights Bang Goes the Theory | Gilbert And Sullivan: A Motley Pair | Time Shift: The North On A Plate | Mad Men | Derren Brown Live | Words Of The BlitzBang Goes the Theory7.30pm, BBC1What's that WSSSSSHH sound? It's the collective sound of popular science fans drawing breath at the return of BGTT. In this first episode, the team explore the repercussions of the BP oil spill and entertain the general public with science experiments involving Russian dolls and weighing scales. The best bit comes when presenter Dallas Campbell, who is travelling to New Zealand with an atomic clock (the most accurate timepiece available) to illustrate the theory of relativity, declares: "It's worse than travelling with a small child!"Gilbert And Sullivan: A Motley Pair8pm, Sky Arts 2A great opening to a five-part series about Britain's greatest librettist/composer duo. Veteran G&S player Simon Butteriss presents with an appropriate level of whimsy and theatrics as he delves into the origins of WS and Arthur's topsy-turvy partnership. Subtle points of satire are acted out by professionals and amateurs (like Cambridge University's G&S Society) and their role in the development of musical theatre is explained by talking heads Michael Ball and Germaine Greer. Time Shift: The North On A Plate9pm, BBC4Andrew Hussey is a cultural history professor who lives in Paris. Originally from Liverpool, he wants to see if he can translate the French concept of terroirs, which denotes the geography and local conditions that defines distinct regional foods, to the north of England. And it's not so difficult. In Liverpool he instantly identifies lobscouse, a stew originally eaten by Baltic sailors and eponymous with the city, while he uncovers the historical link between Wigan and pies. His examples may not seem as glamorous as Bordeaux wine or camembert, but potatoes, fish and chips, tripe are all contenders for terroirs status.Mad Men10pm, BBC4"Who is Don Draper?" asks a reporter from Advertising Age in the first line of this fourth series, set in 1964. It's a knowing wink to an audience well aware of Don's dual life, but it presents a real problem for the ad man – as the public face of a new firm, Draper is now being asked questions about his background. And stonewalling them won't help a business so short of cash that it can't afford a conference table. Meanwhile Betty – who never had to worry about mother-in-law issues – is struggling under Henry's mother's scrutiny at Thanksgiving dinner.Derren Brown Live10pm, Channel 4Last time round, Derren Brown didn't just mess with the minds of a studio audience, he actually came after the viewer at home: in a moment that was as satirical as it was magical, he left members of the public unable to move from their sofas. Details about this new illusion (Stunt? Experience? Trick?) are of course under lock and key ("A member of the public goes on a life-changing journey"), but Brown's genius is in the pre-sale. Never mind what you actually see, Brown tells you that what you're going to experience is going to be pretty incredible. Words Of The Blitz10.35pm, ITV1More blitz commemorations, this time as told through the diaries and letters of those who witnessed the bombing of London firsthand. There's a mixture of class, age, sex: men and women, teenagers, fire fighters, nurses and government officials reveal their experiences and personal thoughts. There's fear and horror, of course, but also boredom and excitement; some are direct and descriptive, others poetic and elegiac. Actors, including Dominic West, Romola Garai, Sheila Hancock and Steven Berkoff, provide the readings. MSPreviews by Megan Clarke, Will Dean and John RobinsonTelevisionMartin SkeggWill DeanJohn Robinsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Researcher digs into fish fossils past A student palaeontologist says he is trying to determine how to conserve fish species by researching fossils in western and north-west Queensland. abc.net.au |
Stem Cells in Court, Scientists Fear for Careers Hanging in the balance are thousands of jobs and millions in grants that support more than 200 research projects. feeds.nytimes.com |
Mission to Mars – review Polka, LondonIf there's a sudden interest in science in the coming years among the children of south-west London and beyond, it may well be traced back to Unlimited's show for seven to 11-year-olds.This two-hander concerns the adventures of Gail and Stefan, two astronauts who set out on the first manned mission to Mars in 2035, having been inspired to become scientists at the age of 10 – the same age as many of the children in the audience. If the aim of Mission to Mars is to enthuse children about science, a subject that is often deemed dull in the classroom (at least until you get the chance to play with Bunsen burners), then it probably does the trick.The members of Unlimited have been pioneers in combining theatre and science for adult audiences, fearlessly going where few other companies have gone before in exploring the metaphysical and everyday impact of scientific advances on our lives, particularly the brilliant performance lecture, The Ethics of Progress.What I'm less sure about is whether this show, for all its smart use of aerial work to demonstrate gravity, and shiny futuristic design, will turn children on to the theatre. The show, despite some cleverly inserted filmed interludes, feels like a throwback to the children's theatre of a decade ago that was often simply a cunning way of delivering the national curriculum. It's big on facts, and rather short on feelings. I longed for a little less real science and a little more imagination.There's a terrific cliffhanger ending, but it's only in the final 15 minutes that this starts feeling less like a pep talk and more like a fully fledged piece of theatre. Until 6 November. Box office: 020-8543 4888.Rating: 3/5TheatreChildren and teenagersLyn Gardnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mystery bird: Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta This bird's song transports me to a very special time and place. Are there any birdsongs that have this effect on you?Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta, photographed at Attwater Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA. Image: Joseph Kennedy, 8 November 2010 [velociraptorize].Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400This is an adult western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta. Hearing the sweet, bright song of this species transports me back in time and place to the semi-arid Umtanum Canyon in central Washington state. I could be sitting in my flat in Frankfurt (as I am right now), or listening to my iPod on the train in NYC or in an ornithology lab in Seattle, but as soon as I hear the song of the western meadowlark, I am -- like magic! -- suddenly a teenager again, shivering as I lay on the very hard ground wrapped in my too-thin sleeping bag, rubbing places on my back and shoulders that have gone numb whilst I slept. I am watching stars wink out as the sky pinkens, then brightens into brilliant gold above the canyon walls as this amazing bird sings. Then I am sitting up, still shivering. The icy breezes of autumn carry the scent of ripening wheat, hops and apples, and soon, I will be contributing the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee to this rich olfactory landscape. Embedded below is a 2 minute radio programme about the stunning and iconic western meadowlark and its gorgeous song, thanks to my friends at BirdNote Radio:Are there any birdsongs that transport you back to a particular time and place? If so, I'd love to read your stories. If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and (mostly) appreciative audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |