Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018

 

The Parker Solar Probe launched on August 12, 2018, at 7:31 UTC (3:31 a.m. EDT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket with an Upper Stage. It was the first NASA mission named after a living individual, honouring astrophysicist Eugene Newman Parker. Parker, who theorized the existence of the solar wind, was present at the launch. 

The Parker Solar Probe is designed to "touch" the Sun, by flying through its outer atmosphere, the corona, to gather data and unravel some long-standing mysteries of our star. To achieve this, the spacecraft utilizes a unique trajectory involving seven Venus gravity assists over roughly seven years to gradually push its orbit closer to the Sun. 

The mission has three main scientific objectives: to understand the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind, to determine the structure and dynamics of plasma and magnetic fields at the source of solar wind, and to investigate the mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles. 

To achieve these goals, the probe is equipped with four key instruments:

·        FIELDS measures electric and magnetic fields.

·        IS☉IS studies energetic particles.

·        WISPR provides images of the corona and inner heliosphere.

·        SWEAP analyzes the most common particles in the solar wind. 

A 4.5-inch thick carbon-composite heat shield protects the spacecraft and its instruments from the extreme heat and radiation during its close passes by the Sun. 

World Steelpan Day

August 11^th is World Steelpan Day, declared by Pan Trinbago. When French planters arrived in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1700s, they brought the carnival tradition, and their slaves formed their own festival. In the 1930s, the steel pan was originally made with metal objects, including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums, and biscuit tins. A series of dents were hammered into the metal surface, and each one created a different note according to its position and size. While the British government tried to ban it, this instrument made out of industrial waste has become an icon of Trinidadian culture!

LEGO Group founded in 1932

 

The LEGO Group was founded on August 10, 1932, by a man named Ole Kirk Christiansen. Mr. Christiansen decided to call his company “LEGO” based on the double meaning of the word – it’s derived from the Danish words “leg godt,” which means “play well,” and in Latin, “lego” means “I put together.”

Mr. Christiansen didn’t set out to create a toy company at first, though. Instead, he started a woodworking shop creating furniture, ladders, and other such items. To demonstrate his products, Christiansen would build miniature models of them. He soon realized that these miniature models were trendy among children as playthings and, at the height of the Great Depression, they were easier to sell.

Thus, the concept of LEGO toys was born. It wasn’t until 1948, though, that LEGO began producing the interlocking blocks they are now known for. At first, the bricks didn’t gain a lot of traction. Metal and wooden toys were still the trends, and the market hadn’t really warmed up to the idea of plastic toys yet. Still, Christiansen and LEGO stuck with the production of their plastic “LEGO bricks,” even moving away from the production of metal and wooden toys to focus on them entirely.

It turned out to be a good move. Over the years, the company continued to grow and expand, posting consistent positive earnings and growth save for a few short years in the early 2000s, where they had a bit of a downturn. In 2016, LEGO reported its highest earnings of all time, bringing in a total of $5.17 billion.

It isn’t just LEGO bricks that the company is involved in, though. In 2014, The LEGO Group and Warner Bros released The LEGO Movie, which received almost unanimous praise and had one of the highest-grossing openings of any animated movie. LEGO continued their expansion into media, releasing many video games and another animated film, The LEGO Batman Movie, in 2017. In addition to this, the company has also opened up several retail stores where they sell their products and a few amusement parks called Legoland.

All in all, it’s been almost a century of success for LEGO as they grew to be one of the world’s largest toy brands then expanded beyond toys in several exciting ways.

 

 

National Lazy Day (United States)

 

In the busy life of today, where productivity and deadlines rule the lives of individuals every day, a day off can seem like a luxury. But on August 10 of each year comes National Lazy Day, a much-needed break. It reminds one to back off, rest and simply do nothing. It is something one shouldn’t feel guilty about; it’s self-care.

Whether it’s catching up on your favourite comfort show, napping, or simply selecting stillness, Lazy Day is the ideal reason to relax and recharge both your mind and body.

World Moomin Day

 

World Moomin Day is celebrated annually on August 9th, which is also Tove Jansson’s birthday. Tove Jansson, a Finnish artist, created the beloved Moomin characters and their stories. The day is a celebration of her work and the whimsical, quirky world of the Moomins. Moomin by Arabia releases a limited-edition Moomin's Day mug each year on this date. 

Jim Corbett National Park established in 1936

The Jim Corbett National Park was established as India’s first National Park on 8th August 1936. Originally called the Hailey National Park after Sir Malcolm Hailey, it was later renamed The Ramganga National Park, but was finally renamed in honour of the famous local conservationist Jim Corbett after his death in 1953. It was home to the launch of the Indian Government’s Project Tiger programme in 1972 – probably the greatest undertaking in the history of natural conservation. It is now home to the greatest population and density of wild tigers in the world.

National Javelin Day (India)

August 7 is celebrated as National Javelin Day in India. The Athletics Federation of India, the governing body for athletics in the country, designated this date to honour Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal win in the javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics. This celebration recognizes his achievement and promotes the sport of javelin throwing across the nation.

On August 7, 2021, Neeraj Chopra made history by throwing the javelin 87.58 meters in the men's Javelin Throw final at the Tokyo Olympics, securing the gold medal. This victory marked India's first-ever gold medal in track and field events at the Olympics. With this achievement, Chopra also became the second individual gold medallist from India, following Abhinav Bindra's gold medal in shooting at the 2008 Beijing Games.