Author Archives: John Pullen

Space is a very big place. The distances involved are literally astronomical. Even our closest neighbour, the Moon, is about 250,000 miles from us. However, back in 1969 two American astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to step out onto another world. Armstrong’s immortal first words, “It’s one small stepContinue reading “Science – How big is space?”

From 1757 to 1775 Benjamin Franklin, who helped draft out the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution, lived in Central London in Craven Street, close to Charing Cross Station. The building was also accepted to have been the first American Embassy in London. But it hid a secret. Benjamin Franklin’s house today is aContinue reading “History – The secret in Benjamin Franklin’s house”

Whilst therapeutic treatments are being researched to help patients who are suffering severe problems due to Covid-19, the real solution to this disease is the development of an effective vaccine. At the time of writing, July 2020, there are over 130 different teams working across the world in order to find one. Vaccines usually takeContinue reading “Coronavirus 4 – A vaccine…a game changer”

In this blog article the virus has entered the body, invaded the cells which it has been able to latch on to and is beginning to do what it does best – reproduce. But our body has an immune system which stands guard against any invaders it detects and as soon as it does, itContinue reading “Coronavirus 3 – The body fights back”

Rivers can be dangerous places and the River Thames is no exception. In fact its currents can drag a person underneath the waters when it might be days later they will reappear to be deposited somewhere along the river. As the Thames is tidal, there are places where it is more likely that a drownedContinue reading “History – Dead Man’s Hole”

In this second article we will look at how the coronavirus virus infects us and causes the disease we know as Covid-19. We already know that coughs and sneezes from an infected person can spread millions of viral particles within droplets into the air and anyone coming in contact with them can become infected byContinue reading “Coronavirus 2 – How it attacks the body”

Most everyone knows the River Thames flows through London. But there are many smaller rivers which feed into the Thames and are either lost or hidden from us today. One of these is called the Neckinger and comes from “the Devil’s neck-cloth” which is an old term for the hangman’s noose.     Today it flowsContinue reading “History – The Devil’s River”

There can be few people on this planet who are unaware of the pandemic attacking almost every country. Its full title is SARS-CoV-2 which indicates that it is not flu but a form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The medical condition it causes is known as Covid-19. However, like the common cold and flu, itContinue reading “Coronavirus 1 – Where it may have come from”

Most people who travel by air know that there are pressure changes when the aircraft climbs and descends. This is often reflected in their ears “popping” as the ear attempts to equalise the pressure changes. But few of them understand what goes on during these phases of a flight.     As you gain altitude, airContinue reading “Science: Airline Passengers under Pressure”

Those who know London will tell you that there are many tunnels crossing underneath the River Thames. Some carry motor vehicles, others trains and tube trains and a couple are for pedestrians. The latter two are located at Greenwich and Woolwich. But there is another pedestrian tunnel which remains unknown to most people.     ItContinue reading “Secret London Thames Tunnel”