Space2Sea Antarctica: William Shatner, Neil deGrasse Tyson and NASA astronauts talk exploration and science from the Drake Passage

Space2Sea Antarctica marks the inaugural voyage in a series produced by FUTURE of SPACE (FoS). This innovative journey blends Earth’s uncharted territories with the inspiring narrative of human curiosity and exploration. It encapsulates the core mission of FoS to: Embrace New Frontiers, Celebrate the Human Experience, and Elevate the Conversation. Student journalist Gabe Castro-Root of American University is chronicling the mission for FoS. You can read his latest dispatch below.Astronauts, scientists and explorers gathered aboard an Antarctica-bound ship on Friday for a panel discussion aimed at inspiring young people’s curiosity about the ocean, outer space and their own backyards.Students in 46 countries were set to tune in to the conversation’s live stream, according to Future of Space, the Antarctica expedition organizer. Daniel Fox, co-founder of Future of Space, said it was the first-ever live broadcast from the Drake Passage, the notoriously turbulent stretch of ocean between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Epic Conversations, Space2Sea Live from Antarctica – YouTube

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The speakers — astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, “Star Trek” actor William Shatner, filmmaker Céline Cousteau and astronauts Scott Kelly and José Hernández — shared stories of their own early interests in exploration and answered questions sent in from students around the world. The panel was moderated by Janet Ivey, host of the children’s television show “Janet’s Planet” on PBS.Tyson, perhaps the world’s best-known science communicator, said in response to a question from a 15-year-old in Finland that he first realized his knack for explaining complex concepts in eighth grade math class. When students didn’t understand the teacher’s description of a matrix, Tyson tried explaining it in his own way. For the other students, he said, it clicked.”What I realized is, if I’m ever tasked with explaining something, the job of the person understanding it is on me,” he said. “It’s not their responsibility to know what I’m saying. It’s my responsibility to have them understand.”He said that commitment to understanding remains the driving force behind the prolific career he has built as a communicator.Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!(Image credit: Future of Space/Space2Sea)“I would rather just stay home in the lab, but I feel a sense of duty to bring the universe down to Earth for all those who are curious, because I can,” Tyson said. “And if I didn’t, it would be disrespect for those who did it for me when I was coming up in the ranks.”Cousteau highlighted a moment when she encountered a humpback whale while diving off the coast of Hawaii.”I felt incredibly small, and that sense of feeling incredibly small I wish upon all of you because it really puts you in perspective of what we are,” she said.But she also emphasized that exploring doesn’t require going deep in the ocean or out to space. “We don’t need to go far away,” she said, adding that curiosity can happen anywhere.At times, the conversation turned into a lighthearted debate over whether it was more difficult to get to the bottom of the ocean or into space.(Image credit: Future of Space/Space2Sea)And while the focus was primarily on the awe of pushing new frontiers in the name of curiosity, Kelly also explained some of the physical challenges he faced during and after his space missions — rashes, loss of blood volume, legs that would “swell up like water balloons.””You’re not being a good ambassador for people to go into space,” Tyson teased him at one point.A second conversation that afternoon, featuring most of the same speakers and moderated by journalist Ann Curry, focused more on the science, but also practical constraints, behind advances in space travel and the possibility of humans one day colonizing another planet or moon.”Antarctica is warmer, balmier and wetter than any place on Mars, yet no one’s lining up to build condominiums here,” Tyson said. “To dream is one thing, but at the end of the day somebody’s gotta write the check to make it happen. The people who write the checks have different motivations from those who do the dreaming, and rarely do they align.”Kelly said his brother, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and another former astronaut, often said getting humans to Mars is “not about rocket science, it’s about political science.” Funding and interest from politicians are bigger obstacles than engineering, he said.”However bad we make this planet, it’s always going to be easier to live here than on Mars,” Kelly said. “But I still do believe we should go to Mars, and I think we will someday.”Asked by a student from Iran about advice for becoming the first person to travel “to Mars and beyond,” Shatner encouraged young people to use the idea of space travel to inspire them to focus on their education.Kelly agreed, explaining that he struggled to find motivation in school before he read “The Right Stuff,” the 1979 book by Tom Wolfe that chronicles postwar development of rocket-powered aircraft.And Hernández, who applied to become an astronaut 11 times before NASA selected him, reminded students to stay persistent and optimistic in the face of daunting challenges.”I always tell folks that it’s okay to dream big,” he said. “I encourage folks to dream big. But you need to back it up with hard work and preparation.”This article was provided by Space2Sea Antarctica and FUTURE of SPACE. For more information on the expedition and FoS visit the Space2Sea Antarctica expedition site, and the FUTURE of SPACE initiative.

Space2Sea Antarctica: William Shatner, Neil deGrasse Tyson and NASA astronauts talk exploration and science from the Drake Passage

Space2Sea Antarctica marks the inaugural voyage in a series produced by FUTURE of SPACE (FoS). This innovative journey blends Earth’s uncharted territories with the inspiring narrative of human curiosity and exploration. It encapsulates the core mission of FoS to: Embrace New Frontiers, Celebrate the Human Experience, and Elevate the Conversation. Student journalist Gabe Castro-Root of American University is chronicling the mission for FoS. You can read his latest dispatch below.Astronauts, scientists and explorers gathered aboard an Antarctica-bound ship on Friday for a panel discussion aimed at inspiring young people’s curiosity about the ocean, outer space and their own backyards.Students in 46 countries were set to tune in to the conversation’s live stream, according to Future of Space, the Antarctica expedition organizer. Daniel Fox, co-founder of Future of Space, said it was the first-ever live broadcast from the Drake Passage, the notoriously turbulent stretch of ocean between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Epic Conversations, Space2Sea Live from Antarctica – YouTube

Watch On
The speakers — astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, “Star Trek” actor William Shatner, filmmaker Céline Cousteau and astronauts Scott Kelly and José Hernández — shared stories of their own early interests in exploration and answered questions sent in from students around the world. The panel was moderated by Janet Ivey, host of the children’s television show “Janet’s Planet” on PBS.Tyson, perhaps the world’s best-known science communicator, said in response to a question from a 15-year-old in Finland that he first realized his knack for explaining complex concepts in eighth grade math class. When students didn’t understand the teacher’s description of a matrix, Tyson tried explaining it in his own way. For the other students, he said, it clicked.”What I realized is, if I’m ever tasked with explaining something, the job of the person understanding it is on me,” he said. “It’s not their responsibility to know what I’m saying. It’s my responsibility to have them understand.”He said that commitment to understanding remains the driving force behind the prolific career he has built as a communicator.Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!(Image credit: Future of Space/Space2Sea)“I would rather just stay home in the lab, but I feel a sense of duty to bring the universe down to Earth for all those who are curious, because I can,” Tyson said. “And if I didn’t, it would be disrespect for those who did it for me when I was coming up in the ranks.”Cousteau highlighted a moment when she encountered a humpback whale while diving off the coast of Hawaii.”I felt incredibly small, and that sense of feeling incredibly small I wish upon all of you because it really puts you in perspective of what we are,” she said.But she also emphasized that exploring doesn’t require going deep in the ocean or out to space. “We don’t need to go far away,” she said, adding that curiosity can happen anywhere.At times, the conversation turned into a lighthearted debate over whether it was more difficult to get to the bottom of the ocean or into space.(Image credit: Future of Space/Space2Sea)And while the focus was primarily on the awe of pushing new frontiers in the name of curiosity, Kelly also explained some of the physical challenges he faced during and after his space missions — rashes, loss of blood volume, legs that would “swell up like water balloons.””You’re not being a good ambassador for people to go into space,” Tyson teased him at one point.A second conversation that afternoon, featuring most of the same speakers and moderated by journalist Ann Curry, focused more on the science, but also practical constraints, behind advances in space travel and the possibility of humans one day colonizing another planet or moon.”Antarctica is warmer, balmier and wetter than any place on Mars, yet no one’s lining up to build condominiums here,” Tyson said. “To dream is one thing, but at the end of the day somebody’s gotta write the check to make it happen. The people who write the checks have different motivations from those who do the dreaming, and rarely do they align.”Kelly said his brother, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and another former astronaut, often said getting humans to Mars is “not about rocket science, it’s about political science.” Funding and interest from politicians are bigger obstacles than engineering, he said.”However bad we make this planet, it’s always going to be easier to live here than on Mars,” Kelly said. “But I still do believe we should go to Mars, and I think we will someday.”Asked by a student from Iran about advice for becoming the first person to travel “to Mars and beyond,” Shatner encouraged young people to use the idea of space travel to inspire them to focus on their education.Kelly agreed, explaining that he struggled to find motivation in school before he read “The Right Stuff,” the 1979 book by Tom Wolfe that chronicles postwar development of rocket-powered aircraft.And Hernández, who applied to become an astronaut 11 times before NASA selected him, reminded students to stay persistent and optimistic in the face of daunting challenges.”I always tell folks that it’s okay to dream big,” he said. “I encourage folks to dream big. But you need to back it up with hard work and preparation.”This article was provided by Space2Sea Antarctica and FUTURE of SPACE. For more information on the expedition and FoS visit the Space2Sea Antarctica expedition site, and the FUTURE of SPACE initiative.

Sarlo’s latest book builds on Hound Town

The Sault’s Tagona Press is releasing Frank Sarlo’s new book, Hound Town Revisited.

Building on Hound Town, his comprehensive 2016 Soo Greyhounds history, Sarlo draws on his decades’ long Greyhounds club director experiences and Brad Coccimiglio’s Hounds’ reporting for SooToday to bring the club’s story to 2024.

Team photographer Bob Davies (Freeze Frame Photos) has contributed 40 beautiful images capturing Hounds’ game action and their loyal fans. Revisited is a unique book – like the team history and city that it celebrates.

All net book proceeds are being donated to ‘Hound Power’, the Greyhounds’ non-profit branch devoted to supporting educational, sports and other charitable activities in the Sault.

Tagona Press publisher Bryan Davies expressed his delight to be working with Sarlo to advance Hound Power’s good works.

“It is a great project – a testament to Frank, Brad, and Bob’s talents, while helping a fine Hounds organization that makes the Sault better.” 

Davies said Sarlo has achieved a rare distinction in the Canadian publishing world.

“We have researched this point as closely as we can – but I believe that very few Canadian authors have ever published three books after they reached 80 years of age,” Davies said.

Sarlo’s three books are ‘A Special Place’ (2023); ‘The West End: A Magical Place Created by Giants’ (2024); and Hound Town Revisited (2024).

“Frank is truly one of a kind.”

Hound Town Revisited sells for $30. It can be purchased online, at Stone’s Office Supply, and on Dec. 28 and 29 at GFL Memorial Arena at the Greyhounds’ games.

La. Art and Science Museum celebrates Christmas with special event

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Louisiana Art and Science Museum is celebrating Christmas with a special event called “Coca-Cola Christmas: A Month of Magic.”The special event is a museum-wide celebration in downtown Baton Rouge and runs through January 5, 2025.There is a winter wonderland on display throughout museum, including a 20-foot Coca-Cola bear, a Santa’s workshop, a North Pole Post Office, and more. In addition to the displays, the Irene, W. Pennington Planetarium at the museum is also offering holiday-themed shows. “Let it Snow” features holiday music classics and scenery. “The Star of Bethlehem” takes you back thousands of years to investigate the star that guided the Wise Men. The Louisiana Art and Science Museum has partnered with Coca-Cola for several years for the “A Very Merry Museum” event. However, the two organizations wanted to expand what they offered to the public in 2024.“The rich history between Coca-Cola and Christmas goes back to the 1940s,” stated Biedenharn. “From the iconic Santa Claus to the recent polar bear, we bring cheer to the holidays. Now, we are happy to bring some of that cheer to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, and hope it brings many memories to you and your family.”For more information on events going on at the museum, click here.The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and is located on River Road in downtown Baton Rouge. There is a fee to enter the museum.Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.Copyright 2024 WAFB. All rights reserved.

12 Books and Bibles for Christmas Reading and Gifting

Add a few of the latest editions of Bibles, some classic books, and a couple of Word In Black favorites to your holiday shopping list.

Everyone has at least one friend who’d rather be curled up with a book during the holidays than socialize with family members and friends. In fact they are often found either with an earpiece secretly listening to their audible library addition or their third Kindle reader and thanking God for yet another one. Those are usually the easiest to purchase gifts for, if we just know their areas of interest.
RELATED: Where Do Folks Leaving Traditional Church Go?
These suggestions for your shopping list represent a few of the latest editions of Bibles, some classic books, and a couple of personal favorites. 

Bibles
CSB Grace BibleBy 2K/Denmark and Cambridge University

This Bible is changing the game for young readers with dyslexia and other reading challenges. Cutting-edge, research-backed design principles — like unique letter shapes and extra space between letters, words, and lines — make Bible reading more accessible and engaging than ever

The Breathe Life BibleBy Thomas Nelson
This Bible “invites you to experience scripture through the lens of the BREATHE acronym: believe, reconcile, exalt, act, trust, hope and elevate,” according to its website. The intent is that the life of the Bible is so internalized that readers become better “agents of reconciliation.”
First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New TestamentFrom InterVarsity Press
The First Nations Version reimagines the New Testament through the lens of Native storytelling, blending simplicity, clarity, and beauty in English while staying true to the Bible’s original language. This groundbreaking translation, shaped by over five years of collaboration, brings together Indigenous voices from 25+ tribes, organizations like OneBook and Wycliffe Associates, and a diverse council of Native elders, pastors, and young adults from across North America.

The New Revised Standard Version Updated EditionPublished by the National Council of the Churches of Christ
“The NRSVue extends the New Revised Standard Version’s (NRSV) purpose to deliver an accurate, readable, up-to-date, and inclusive version of the Bible,” according to the website. “It also continues the work of offering a version as free as possible from the gender bias inherent in the English language, which can obscure earlier oral and written renditions.”
The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary
This commentary comes from a multiethnic team of scholars, bringing together diverse perspectives to create something that’s not just reflective in their backgrounds, but also deeply contextual, informative, and — hopefully — prophetic and inspiring.
Books
A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation
Read Gustavo Gutierrez’s classic liberation theology to discover the reason for the grief his readers express at the news of his recent death.
Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying HumanBy Cole Arthur Riley
Unable to find a suitable liturgy for her own worship, Riley has written something for herself and young people of faith like her.
The Day God Saw Me As BlackBy D. Danyelle Thomas
This book was written as a manifesto on the church whose walls are not wide enough to include those who’ve been systematically excluded from the mainstream of hope and faith.
Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy SpiritBy Francis Chan
The author, pastor, and church planter reminds the reader of the Holy Spirit, the member of the Trinity that is often neglected, to the detriment of the believer. 
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts EternityBy William Paul Young
A personal favorite and teaching tool of mine. I recently heard a testimony that it was from The Shack she learned how much God really loves her. No strings attached. No ifs, and, or, buts. The book received a ton of criticism when it was published, and again when the motion picture was made. But read it for yourself and let me know your thoughts.
They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ GodBy Frank A. Thomas
It’s not a new book, but it holds its place as a classic for anyone who feels the call to preach. It highlights the strength and joy of celebration in preaching in Black preaching.
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