Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Amazing events in pictures




An image of the Earth captured by Russian weather satellite Elektro-L. Launched in January 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome the satellite has been orbiting the Earth at 36,000km above the equator, capturing new images of Earth.



London Mayor Boris Johnson takes former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger for a ride on one of his 'Boris bikes'



Here's a real-life Angry Bird. Telegraph reader Gerard Girling sent us this fantastic picture, writing: "Angry Birds are all the rage at the moment - but I have never seen one so furious as this tiny female Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, (Poliopitila caerulea).



Scientists have unveiled the most accurate map ever produced of the Earth's gravity. It seems it is shaped not like a sphere but a potato. A precise model of Earth's geoid is crucial for deriving accurate measurements of ocean circulation, sea-level change and terrestrial ice dynamics. The geoid is also used as a reference surface from which to map the topographical features on the planet. In addition, a better understanding of variations in the gravity field will lead to a deeper understanding of Earth's interior, such as the physics and dynamics associated with volcanic activity and earthquakes.



Space shuttle Endeavour suffered minor damage on the launch pad as severe thunderstorms swept through Kennedy Space Centre. Lightning struck and there were reports of hail. Wind gusts reached 90 mph (145 kph). Two funnel clouds were reported as the severe weather continued. Funnel clouds are rotating columns of wind coming off clouds; if they touch the ground, they form tornadoes. Endeavour's external fuel tank sustained minor damage to some of its insulating foam, said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel.





Severe weather moves in over the vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida




This picture is one of a series taken by photographer Chris Fallows, 36, that show albatrosses diving for fish less than a metre above dozens of hungry sharks. The birds were spotted swimming precariously close to the sharks as they were being fed fish by a boat full of tourists. The daring birds even pecked at the sharks and stole their lunch - yet the sharks remained unfazed and continued to swim less than a metre beneath them. 



A goat from Yanji in northeast China's Liaoning Province has been nicknamed "Strong-willed goat" as it has learned to walk on just its front two forelegs. Yang Yang the goat was born without hind legs in January and has learned walk on its front legs. And within a month Yang Yang had learned how to balance, walk and even run upside down on just his front legs.



John Sutton gets to play with his very own nuclear submarine - docked on the river Medway in Rochester, Kent. The underwater vessel was part of a fleet under the command of the Soviet Union. John Sutton has looked after the war machine for nine years. "This weekend is her 44th birthday as she was built in Russia on the first of April 1967," explained John. "It was her job to hunt down enemy sea vessels. The Soviet Union never went to war with America so she didn't see combat. She was used for patrolling the Baltic Sea and training sailors. By 1994 the submarine was decommissioned. Inside the maze-like inside of the submarine the red stars and other symbols of the Soviet Union look the same as the day Communism fell. The 78 seamen shared their sleeping area with live nuclear torpedoes and had to work 12-hours-per-day


Prince William sits at the controls of a Sea King helicopter at RAF Valley on Anglesey, Wales. Prince William is serving as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, based at RAF Valley on Anglesey.



An aerial view of Quito city is seen from an aircraft flying above Mariscal Sucre Airport, which is located 2,813 metres (9,229 feet) above sea level in the Andes Mountains.


A Libyan rebel rocket launcher misfires while shelling pro-Gaddafi forces, along the front line outside the eastern town of Brega