Tag Archives: UK

BBC presents another fascinating look at our world with ‘Human Planet’

After examining our world’s oceans in The Blue Planet (2001) and the intricacies of nature in Planet Earth (2006), BBC is preparing to unveil its next big documentary that “marvels at mankind’s incredible relationship with nature in the world today.”  It’s called Human Planet.

Uniquely in the animal kingdom, humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbours and the hostile elements of the natural world.

The production crew behind the upcoming doc filmed in around 80 locations using state-of-the-art HD cameras.  So you can expect the visuals to be stunningly beautiful, but isn’t that the norm for BBC/Discovery documentary series?

Human Planet will air in eight parts.  It began broadcasing January 13 on BBC One in the UK and an international release will follow shortly after the series ends there.  Watch the trailer for it above, and look after the break for two more sneak peeks.

[Via Gizmodo] Continue reading BBC presents another fascinating look at our world with ‘Human Planet’

A Wii-mote controls game & people in real life (a comedy sketch)

London-based comedy sketch group Idiots of Ants is here to show us just how realistic the controls are for Medieval Swordfighter 3 using a modern Wii-mote + nunchuck setup.  It’s not too long before the game starts bleeding into the real world.  …They’re British and funny so watch it!

[Via Gizmodo]

Olympic landmark coming to London in 2012

The ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by artist Anish Kapoor, is “set to become UK’s largest sculpture.”  The Orbit is being built as an attraction site just in time for the 2012 Olympics at the Olympic Park site in London.

[The sculpture] will consist of a continuous looping lattice of tubular steel. Standing at a gigantic 115m, it will be 22m taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York and offer unparalleled views of the entire 250 acres of the Olympic Park and London’s skyline from a special viewing platform. Visitors will be able to take a trip up the statuesque structure in a huge lift and will have the option of walking down the spiralling staircase.

Don’t you think this would make for one hell of a rollercoaster?  Addtional images in the gallery below.

[Via Dezeen; Gizmodo]

Walk and create energy

Pavegen Systems at interbuild exhibition.  Flexible paving slabs that generte energy from people’s footsteps to power street lighting, wayfinding solutions, and other low energy applications. 

Basically, these “paving slabs” can generate “as much as 2.1 watts of electricity per hour” simply by having people walk on them.  This kind of tech is very impressive and surely stands out in the “be green” world we live in today.  Pavegen Systems is currently testing it out in East London and they plan to have them installed more widely sometime in 2010.

[Via Engadget]

London’s Shard is beautiful

the-shard-by-renzo-piano-31.jpg

“The Shard, a mixed-use tower at London Bridge in London, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop.”

“Construction work has started on the 306 metre-high building, which will sit on an irregular-shaped site adjacent to London Bridge station as part of a new development called London Bridge Quarter.  The design consists of several glass facets that incline inwards but do not meet at the top, and is inspired by the masts of ships that once anchored on the Thames.  The  72-storey building contains offices, apartments, a hotel and spa, retail and restaurants and is topped by a 15-storey public viewing gallery.”  The Shard is “due to be completed in 2012.”

Check out the gallery below for more images of this architectural marvel.  It is very sci-fi-esque; it reminds me of a structure from the Halo series.

[Via Gizmodo; Dezeen]