TV Viewing Figures

As the X-Factor returns to our screens, doing everything in our power to conquer the TV ratings - how are those figures actually calculated? Surprisingly, the figures aren't actually compiled from every household in the nation. The Broadcasters Audience Research have recruited 12,000 people from over five thousand households and they then scale up, taking into account things like demographic (target audience) and how they view that particular program.

How to Walk the Nile

The man who conquered the Nile, Levison Wood battled through blisters and exhaustion, he walked the length of the Nile, through war zones and completely deserted regions of Africa. He had to bypass a small section of the Nile because he found himself caught in the midst of a civil war in South Sudan, he also battled through temperatures as high as 62C, he raced to reach a well in the desert through dwindling water supplies, but he made it, 9 months and thousands of miles later. 

Lev had to stay hydrated, walking with guides and journalists covering his adventure, unfortunately an American journalist, Matthew Power collapsed due to heatstroke, hours away from help he died, Lev carried on, dedicating the rest of the expedition to Matthew and his wife Jess. The tragic incident was a stark reminder of the physical challenge which lay ahead, not only to get to the end of the Nile but simply to survive. 

Lev, a former British Army Captain was used to being around in war but he said this was like nothing he'd ever seen, he said "One guy tried to attack me, and threatened to kill me", in the Channel 4 series, he talked about the fact he became a target because they wanted to attack anyone accosiated with the UN, potentially supporting the other side. 

Months later he completed his expedition, although his hopes for being the first to walk the length of  the Nile were ended after he was forced to skip a 400 mile war torn stretch of the Nile. 

As he entered Egypt, he viewed it as a kind of respite, although he was consistently followed by two police cars and a personal bodyguard, all to protect him from extremist groups or any other problems which may have occured. Throughout the trip, he explored some of the treasures of Africa, even some pyramids that a Pharoh blew the tops off to hunt for treasure - all to no avail, as he found treasure in only one of the pyramids! 

So how do you walk the Nile? The answer? Walking the Nile is a battle, a battle with the elements, a physical and mental battle and certainly not for the faint hearted,with temperatures averaging 50C it's about staying hydrated, drinking as much water as humanly possible - but as Lev has proved, it's all possible. 

Levison's book, Walking the Nile is available to buy from all well known book stores and Amazon

Summer of Science Day 4 - One Giant Leap for Selfies?

21st July 1969 - The Summer of '69!

Today the attention lies predominantly on the 45th anniversary of the moon landing; where 99% * of the world's TV screens were tuned into NASA TV. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface at 0256 GMT with the eyes of the world focused on him. Only 14 minutes later Buzz Aldrin stepped out onto the lunar surface, jumping across the moon's surface collecting rock samples taking advantage of the stunning view from here on Earth. 

On the other hand, Buxzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong aren't just famous for their landing on the moon. Buzz Aldrin has laid claim to the first "space selfie" in 1966 - is this where the trend comes from?

Don't forget to download my eBook, Science Bites. Follow my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks

*According to NASA

The Moon Landing - "One small step for man, one giant leap for human kind"

The Apollo 11 mission was the first to land humans on the moon. Neil Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface on 20th July 1969. Armstrong spent about two and a half hours outside the spacecraft, Buzz Aldrin slightly less. They managed to collect 21.5 kg of lunar material for return to Earth. The third member of the mission, Micheal Collins piloted the command spacecraft alone in orbit until the pair returned to it just under a day later for the trip back to Earth. 

The spacecraft was launched by a Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 16th July. This mission was the fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program. The spacecraft consisted of three parts, the command module (CM) with a cabin for the three astronauts, and the only part that was brought back to earth, the Service Module (SM). This supported the command module for things like propulsion, electrical power, oxygen and water. The last component being the Lunar Module (LM) which landed on the moon. 

After being propelled to the moon, the astronauts were separated from Saturn V and traveled towards the moon for three days until they entered the lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into the Lunar Module and landed in the Sea of Tranquility. They stayed on the moon for about 21 1/2 hours. The mission ended as they landed in the Pacific Ocean on 24th July. 

US President John F Kennedy set proposed this as a goal in 1961 to the US Congress by saying: "before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth". This goal was fulfilled in a broadcast live on TV to a world-wide audience which then ended the Space Race.