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Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Glasgow Times
Calls to restore 'unique' aspect of Glasgow's Princes Square
Installed in the late 1980s after the Victorian square was renovated into a postmodern shopping gallery, it swung to and fro for decades, tracking the path of the Earth's rotation. Yet, time has taken its toll — and the pendulum no longer serves as a living science experiment in Glasgow City Centre. READ MORE: Council under fire after using AI to help form new policy on smartphones in schools For the last several years; it has been dormant, frozen. It is my first time in Princes Square and as I ride an escalator to the basement level, I'm keen to see what the fuss is all about. Because after years of inactivity, science-minded Glaswegians have launched a campaign to get the pendulum swinging again. The pendulum, viewed from above. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) Glasgow City Heritage Trust boss Niall Murphy tells me that he first noticed the pendulum was no longer working while he was at lunch in the gallery last week. After checking the weight, he found it had been deactivated. Created as an experiment by French scientist Leon Foucault 170 years ago, the pendulum's oscillation over a 24 hour period demonstrates the Earth's rotation. There are at least 130 Foucault pendulums across Europe, including 12 in the UK. Murphy tells me: 'The pendulum is part of the original set-up in Princes Square. It's one of the small details that make the space feel very special and adds to the sense of place. 'It was made by the California Academy of Science in San Francisco back in the 1980s, around the same time 'Foucault's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco was written, funnily enough. It has travelled a long way to be here.' Murphy says the shopping centre, which was named as Scotland's favourite building in 2016, is a 'great place' and 'fantastic space' which houses a lot of unique details paying homage to the city's artistic history. Sitting adjacent to Buchanan Street, the shell of the building was designed in the 1840s, before being renovated and covered with a glass atrium in the late 1980s. The site was sold to property developers M Core in 2024. 'It is a really good example of a postmodern space in the city. Ironically, directly opposite from where the pendulum is in the basement there is a heritage wall,' Murphy notes, 'which highlights all the different and unique features of the building.' The pendulum was installed in the 1980s, as this photo shows. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) The pendulum is easy enough to find, located at the centre of the building and wedged in between seating for Zibibbo and il Pavone restaurants. Patrons sip cocktails and nibble on tapas as I peer at the abandoned pendulum, snapping photos from several angles. I must look quite strange. Ironically, the wall that Murphy mentioned hails the pendulum as a key 'design feature' of the building, with one excerpt stating: 'In 1851, Jean Bernard Leon Foucault, the French physicist, demonstrated a free-swinging pendulum suspended from the dome of the Pantheon in Paris to conclusively prove that the Earth rotates. 'A weight suspended in this manner continues swinging in one direction relative to the sun while the Earth rotates. The northern hemisphere's anti-clockwise rotations produce an apparent clockwise rotation of the pendulum. Magnets have been mounted at the tip of the cable to counteract air resistance and gravity.' A petition calling on the centre's owners to reactivate the pendulum was created in July 2023, but lay dormant until a surge of interest this week. Paul Sweeney MSP, who is keenly aware of the importance of retaining Glasgow's heritage, tells me he is backing the petition. He said: 'Glasgow is lucky to have a Foucault Pendulum in Princes Square, but it is a shame to see it is no longer working. 'Reactivating the pendulum would be tremendous for Glasgow. It would allow Glaswegians to continue to marvel at the remarkable scientific discovery, and it would show a willingness to preserve scientific heritage in public spaces. 'I will be writing to the management of Princes Square to ask them to ensure that the pendulum is in working order and I encourage people to take a few minutes to sign the petition." Read more: 'Fun police': Decision made on the selling of ice cream in Glasgow parks In the depths of Princes Square, huddled between tables of people eating lunch and the hurried footsteps of passersby, I gaze at the pendulum, now still. I'm met with a wave of nostalgia. You see, this is all oddly familiar. Growing up near Philadelphia, a highlight of the school calendar was a trip to the Franklin Institute, an ornate science centre named after Benjamin Franklin, he of key and kite. At the heart of the museum, near the IMAX screen and planetarium, hangs a Foucualt pendulum, four stories off the ground. It has swung for more than 80 years, with a 85 foot wire pulling a 180 pound orb from side to side. It's a memory I have tucked away in the back of my psyche, faint and faded — but the magic remains. Sadly, that sense of wonder appears to have been lost in some quarters. The Benjamin Franklin Institute is located in Philadelphia. (Image: Dan Mall/Unsplash) As campaign organiser Ethan Slater wrote on 'The motionless Foucault's Pendulum in Princes Square has left a lasting impact on those who frequent the area. Its stillness has deprived people of a captivating spectacle. 'The absence of this intriguing pendulum robs the community of a unique educational and cultural experience, as it once served as a source of wonder and curiosity, especially for students and science enthusiasts.' This is an issue which goes behind the glass walls of Princes Square. As Murphy notes, the fate of the pendulum mimics what is taking place across the city, as historic motifs and architectural flourishes are being removed. READ MORE: 10 Glasgow areas set to have fireworks ban The heritage boss tells me: 'There are a lot of details in the building which are all to do with the Tree of Life — a lot of Mackintosh's designs play on this theme. 'Some of these details are being lost — they've been covered over and are disappearing. It's somewhat depressing. 'It's unfortunate, because features like the pendulum add to the sense of place for these buildings. But no one seems to care. We need to fight against this attitude.' Indeed, apathy is one of the biggest challenges in the battle to maintain the built fabric of Glasgow. How do we convince Glaswegians that beauty deserves to be protected, that the buildings around us tell a deeper story, one which is lost when they end up gutted or on the scrap heap? Perhaps, it is as simple as looking up — and embracing the magic and wonder once again.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
Calls to restore 'unique' aspect of Glasgow shopping centre
Yet, time has taken its toll — and the pendulum no longer serves as a living science experiment in Glasgow City Centre. For the last several years; it has been dormant, frozen. It is my first time in Princes Square and as I ride an escalator to the basement level, I'm keen to see what the fuss is all about. Because after years of inactivity, science-minded Glaswegians have launched a campaign to get the pendulum swinging again. The pendulum, viewed from above. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) Glasgow City Heritage Trust boss Niall Murphy tells me that he first noticed the pendulum was no longer working while he was at lunch in the gallery last week. After checking the weight, he found it had been deactivated. Created as an experiment by French scientist Leon Foucault 170 years ago, the pendulum's oscillation over a 24 hour period demonstrates the Earth's rotation. There are at least 130 Foucault pendulums across Europe, including 12 in the UK. Murphy tells me: 'The pendulum is part of the original set-up in Princes Square. It's one of the small details that make the space feel very special and adds to the sense of place. 'It was made by the California Academy of Science in San Francisco back in the 1980s, around the same time 'Foucault's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco was written, funnily enough. It has travelled a long way to be here.' Murphy says the shopping centre, which was named as Scotland's favourite building in 2016, is a 'great place' and 'fantastic space' which houses a lot of unique details paying homage to the city's artistic history. Sitting adjacent to Buchanan Street, the shell of the building was designed in the 1840s, before being renovated and covered with a glass atrium in the late 1980s. The site was sold to property developers M Core in 2024. 'It is a really good example of a postmodern space in the city. Ironically, directly opposite from where the pendulum is in the basement there is a heritage wall,' Murphy notes, 'which highlights all the different and unique features of the building.' The pendulum was installed in the 1980s, as this photo shows. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) The pendulum is easy enough to find, located at the centre of the building and wedged in between seating for Zibibbo and il Pavone restaurants. Patrons sip cocktails and nibble on tapas as I peer at the abandoned pendulum, snapping photos from several angles. I must look quite strange. Ironically, the wall that Murphy mentioned hails the pendulum as a key 'design feature' of the building, with one excerpt stating: 'In 1851, Jean Bernard Leon Foucault, the French physicist, demonstrated a free-swinging pendulum suspended from the dome of the Pantheon in Paris to conclusively prove that the Earth rotates. 'A weight suspended in this manner continues swinging in one direction relative to the sun while the Earth rotates. The northern hemisphere's anti-clockwise rotations produce an apparent clockwise rotation of the pendulum. Magnets have been mounted at the tip of the cable to counteract air resistance and gravity.' A petition calling on the centre's owners to reactivate the pendulum was created in July 2023, but lay dormant until a surge of interest this week. Paul Sweeney MSP, who is keenly aware of the importance of retaining Glasgow's heritage, tells me he is backing the petition. He said: 'Glasgow is lucky to have a Foucault Pendulum in Princes Square, but it is a shame to see it is no longer working. 'Reactivating the pendulum would be tremendous for Glasgow. It would allow Glaswegians to continue to marvel at the remarkable scientific discovery, and it would show a willingness to preserve scientific heritage in public spaces. 'I will be writing to the management of Princes Square to ask them to ensure that the pendulum is in working order and I encourage people to take a few minutes to sign the petition." Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: Top Scottish universities to review trans policies after Supreme Court ruling Time to 'reflect and remember' says artist behind Perthshire Covid installation Glasgow drivers racked up £1.7m in LEZ fines since 2023, figures show 'Troubling direction' or 'targeting exploitation': Gen Z debates Unbuyable bill In the depths of Princes Square, huddled between tables of people eating lunch and the hurried footsteps of passersby, I gaze at the pendulum, now still. I'm met with a wave of nostalgia. You see, this is all oddly familiar. Growing up near Philadelphia, a highlight of the school calendar was a trip to the Franklin Institute, an ornate science centre named after Benjamin Franklin, he of key and kite. At the heart of the museum, near the IMAX screen and planetarium, hangs a Foucualt pendulum, four stories off the ground. It has swung for more than 80 years, with a 85 foot wire pulling a 180 pound orb from side to side. It's a memory I have tucked away in the back of my psyche, faint and faded — but the magic remains. Sadly, that sense of wonder appears to have been lost in some quarters. The Benjamin Franklin Institute is located in Philadelphia. (Image: Dan Mall/Unsplash) As campaign organiser Ethan Slater wrote on 'The motionless Foucault's Pendulum in Princes Square has left a lasting impact on those who frequent the area. Its stillness has deprived people of a captivating spectacle. 'The absence of this intriguing pendulum robs the community of a unique educational and cultural experience, as it once served as a source of wonder and curiosity, especially for students and science enthusiasts.' This is an issue which goes behind the glass walls of Princes Square. As Murphy notes, the fate of the pendulum mimics what is taking place across the city, as historic motifs and architectural flourishes are being removed. The heritage boss tells me: 'There are a lot of details in the building which are all to do with the Tree of Life — a lot of Mackintosh's designs play on this theme. 'Some of these details are being lost — they've been covered over and are disappearing. It's somewhat depressing. 'It's unfortunate, because features like the pendulum add to the sense of place for these buildings. But no one seems to care. We need to fight against this attitude.' Indeed, apathy is one of the biggest challenges in the battle to maintain the built fabric of Glasgow. How do we convince Glaswegians that beauty deserves to be protected, that the buildings around us tell a deeper story, one which is lost when they end up gutted or on the scrap heap? Perhaps, it is as simple as looking up — and embracing the magic and wonder once again.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
An astounding number of whales are showing up in San Francisco Bay
A shocking number of gray whales have been seen congregating — and dying — in San Francisco Bay this year. Five perished in the past week, including three found floating in different parts of the bay on Memorial Day. Gray whales travel close to the coast each spring, many with calves in tow, on their way to their main source of food in Alaska. Until fairly recently, stopping in San Francisco Bay and lingering there was considered unusual. But so far this year, 33 gray whales have been sighted in the bay compared to four last year, based on photo identification, according to the California Academy of Science in San Francisco and the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. Some have spent as long as 20 days in the bay and many have been seen foraging near Tiburon. Though it can add a thrill to ferry commutes, the behavior concerns scientists because it puts the whales at risk of being hit by ships, and it may mean that they are not getting enough food due to global warming and changing conditions in the arctic. The whales will likely be around for only another week or two before the last of them heads farther north. 'It's unexpected,' said Bill Keener, a researcher at the Marine Mammal Center who spotted whale number 33. The total sightings are at least twice as many as ever before, though he and other observers, including members of the public, have also increased the amount of time spent looking for them in recent years. 'The numbers were so much lower last year. It was trending in the right direction.' In addition, more gray whales are washing up dead on Bay Area beaches than in recent years, with a total of 13. That is close to the record-high numbers in 2019 and 2021, when 14 and 15 whales died respectively, the groups said. This difference this year is that almost all of the dead whales were found within the bay rather than on coastal beaches or farther away from San Francisco, said Sue Pemberton of the California Academy. The reasons for the changes are not yet clear, she said. 'It's very interesting and a little perplexing. We haven't really seen anything like this before,' she said. 'Having this many whales die inside the bay definitely feels like it's a new event.' Pemberton said scientists are performing necropsies, or autopsies for animals, to the extent possible. That proved difficult this week, because many of the whales — found in the bay near Berkeley, Alcatraz and Point Bonita as well as in Bolinas and near Southeast Farallon Island — were in advanced stages of decomposition or hard to reach. The dead whale spotted by researchers on Southeast Farallon Island was in an inaccessible area, so the scientists used a live webcam operated by the Academy to study it and to determine that it was likely a gray whale. One theory for why gray whales are lingering in the bay and why they're struggling in general, is because they may not be getting enough to eat in the Arctic. The base of the food chain there is a type of algae that grows underneath sea ice, which is retreating with climate change, Pemberton said. 'Does this represent a blip? Something that's just weird and they decided to stop at the snack shack in SF Bay?' Pemberton said. 'Or, at the other end of the spectrum, is this an adaptation to conditions out in the ocean?' From 2019 to 2021, the West Coast gray whale population experienced what scientists called an 'unusual mortality event,' meaning a high number of deaths. Federal scientists are monitoring this year's population from an observation station south of San Luis Obispo, counting the cetaceans as they swim from Baja California to Alaska, and will have an estimate in a few weeks, said Michael Milstein, a spokesperson for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. So far the total number of gray whale deaths along the West Coast, including Alaska, is 38, higher than last year's 31, Milstein said. At the same time, scientists in Mexico and other observers in Southern California are reporting seeing fewer calves than usual, something that was seen during the mortality event, said Milstein. 'The thinking is that if the females are not getting as much food or having to work harder for the food, they don't have enough energy to give birth and nurse a calf to the point it will survive,' he said. However, while some of the dead whales appear to be skinny, others are not. A few show signs of blunt force trauma from ship strikes, though the U.S. Coast Guard is working to make ships aware of the location of whales inside the bay or shipping lanes, and ferry boat operators inside the bay are slowing down or changing routes to avoid them. 'There's not one silver bullet explanation at this point,' Milstein said.
San Francisco Chronicle
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
A Berkeley pet store hatched a rare two-headed snake. That was the easy part
When East Bay Vivarium employees Angel Hamilton and Ezekiel White discovered a newly hatched California kingsnake last September, the fledgling reptile had an unexpected genetic twist: two heads. The mood was a blast of elation, followed by a heavy dose of pessimistic doom. 'Our boss said, 'Take all the pictures you can, because it's probably going to die,'' Hamilton remembered. Two-headed reptiles are uncommon in nature — about a 1-in-100,000 shot. The chances of survival are even more slim. Staff at the 55-year-old Berkeley reptile store thought the animal would last minutes, hours or days. But seven months later, the shiny, striped, black-and-white snake, with heads named Angel and Zeke after the workers who found it, seems to be thriving. It is more than a foot long, devours a baby mouse every Tuesday and is developing a budding social media stardom. X-rays suggest the snake(s) could live a full life, growing to four feet and surviving a quarter century or more. 'We now know that he has a functioning digestive system,' White said. 'With a little luck and without unforeseen challenges, he should live many years.' Reptiles, like mammals, sometimes birth conjoined twins. Michigan reptile breeder and YouTuber Brian Barczyk, who died last year, featured frequent videos with his two-headed kingsnakes named Ben and Jerry. A Mississippi breeder has a two-headed turtle named Chop and Stick. The California Academy of Science once featured a pair of two-headed snakes: a garter snake that died after a few years in the 1960s, and a gopher snake that lived 22 years from the 1970s to 1990s. But they rarely survive that long. Vivarium owner John Emberton has seen two-headed baby ball pythons, tortoises and geckos in his 35 years at the store, where hundreds of colorful snakes are hatched every year. None have lived more than a few days. The store kept Angel/Zeke under wraps for six months, before sharing an Instagram reel of the snake feeding on March 30. On a recent Tuesday feeding day, the animal seemed to be thriving, if a bit drunk. Both black tongues flicker as they navigate their habitat, slithering quickly, but often getting trapped as a stick or leaf gets caught in the fork between their heads. White described the snake's personalities as 'clumsy but fearless.' 'The way you set up the environment has to be a little bit simpler,' said the Vivarium's Alex Blanchard. 'They are occasionally fighting over where to go. You don't want them to get stuck, when they're not on the same page.' Both heads have brains that process information separately. But during a feeding, the right head takes charge, biting a small pink mouse until it stops moving, then swallowing the extra-large meal in its unhinged jaw. While Angel and Zeke have longer 'necks' than Ben and Jerry or the Cal Academy snakes, X-rays suggest they share a single heart, lung and digestive system — a good sign for survival. White and Hamilton have a running spirited debate whether the dominant head is Angel or Zeke. But the left head has shown interest in food, and could start eating as an adult snake. Emberton said Angel/Zeke are still in the 'wait and see' stage. If the snake reaches a year old, the Vivarium will consider selling, likely to a zoo or museum. Barczyk said he had offers for $50,000 for Ben and Jerry, but Emberton said that's likely very high. The left head is smaller with one diminished eye, and Angel/Zeke have a visible knot where their spines join, which could lessen their value. But for Vivarium workers, mere survival makes Angel/Zeke the best two-headed snake they could ask for. 'We've had plenty of things hatch that look perfect and didn't make it anyway,' Emberton said. 'Will it last five minutes or 30 years? You never know.'
CBS News
10-03-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Thursday's anticipated "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will hopefully be visible in the Bay Area
On Thursday night, the Bay Area will see a total lunar eclipse -- also known as a blood moon -- though visibility could be impacted by the expected stormy weather. "I live right in the middle of San Francisco, so I'm used to the clouds… I know [we're] supposed to be getting some rain later this week, so [I'm] a little worried we won't have a clear sky," said Ryan Wyatt, the senior director of the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Science in San Francisco. "But keeping our fingers crossed!" Ron Hipshman is the senior science content director at the Exploratorium. He said anyone in the Bay Area with a clear view of the moon will be able to witness the celestial event on March 13. "Eclipses are spectacular. The moon kind of slowly slides into the shadow of the Earth, and turns red," Hipshman explained. "It's pretty dramatic, I think. The moon almost disappears from the sky, but it doesn't. It becomes this blood-red color." A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned precisely between the moon and the sun, causing Earth's shadow to fall upon the surface of the moon. "Whenever you look up at the sky, you have this connection to something that's bigger than yourself. And with an eclipse, you can certainly start to think of yourself as, 'Oh, I'm on this planet that's orbiting the Sun and just coincidentally twice a year, we line up just right with the Moon," Wyatt said. "To just sort of think of your place in all of this is pretty inspiring." The total lunar eclipse is expected to begin at 9:55 p.m., according to NASA. By 10:47 p.m., half of the moon will be under a shade of red. However, Hipshman, who started working as a staff scientist at the Exploratorium in 1971, suggested Bay Area residents wait for the climax. "I would just go for the umbral shadow, which starts at about 11:26 p.m. Then, the center of the eclipse is at like 11:59. It's almost exactly at midnight," Hipschman said. "It couldn't be much better for us! Well, maybe not everyone wants it at midnight." Both Hipschman and Wyatt also said lunar eclipses are much more accessible compared to other celestial events. "You don't have to worry about eye protection like a solar eclipse. It's perfectly safe to watch a lunar eclipse," Hipschman said. "You can have some binoculars if you want, but it's something you can see with your naked eye." "If you want to see a meteor shower, you've got to find some dark spot with a view of the sky. If you want to solar eclipse, you've got to go to the right place, part of the world. But with a lunar eclipse, if it's visible in your area, as long as you have a clear sky and view, you can enjoy it," Wyatt said.
