Being as it was only little over a month since the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings, it seems apt to talk about the growing probability of consumer space travel.

The landing in 1969 was driven by a rivalry between Russia and America, who were battling it out to see who could get a man on the moon first. The consumer space program seems to be driven by a similar impulse, this time between Richard Branson’s Virgin and The Lynx.  

Sadly, holidays are still a while away from being like ‘The Jetsons’ but this could be the biggest leap in tourism since the invention of the plane. As you would imagine initial prices to travel are exorbitant, roughly $50,000, but this is small change compared to the millions that it has previously cost tourists to travel into space.  The galactic flights only take you marginally out of the Earth’s atmosphere so the space age travel isn’t quite where we would like it to be just yet. 

When the first commercial flights were put on sale, the prices were only affordable for the privileged and now some airlines literally giveaway flights. Will intergalactic flights ever be affordable or will they always be the folly of the rich and famous? Would you pay huge fees to take such a significant, unique and life changing trip? I would be willingly (if I had anywhere near the money), the sophistication of the technology involved warrants the fees and it would be an experience that few could boast.

Dragon’s Den is one of the BBC’s flagship programmes and has highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit the country has to offer, albeit with some being significantly better than others.

Each Dragon is a well established entrepreneur with a ruthless edge allied with a cute a business mind and boundless ambition. These are just some of the characteristics needed to have a successful career in business, which of course, can bring unimaginable wealth and opportunity.

So do you have what it takes to be the next Peter Jones or Duncan Bannatyne? Well, first we have to establish the characteristics needed to succeed at such a level. According to testimonies from some of the best entrepreneurs of the last 100 years, the key abilities are perseverance, quality and being able to surround yourself with people cleverer than yourself.  

The first and third one, you can learn; perseverance involves a bit of discipline and mental strength and surrounding yourself with more talented people really only involves swallowing your pride, as well as a bit of perception. It’s the second that is hard to learn. Most people want to get rich quick and by and large, scam people out of their money. As Milton Hershey said, “Quality is the best form of advertising”. The biggest companies invariably deliver the best products, certainly the best that can be created on a production line. 

Do you see yourself as a future Dragon? Can you fulfil these criteria? If so, get a head start and have a look at some of our business courses.

As I have mentioned before, explosive science is always good. Screaming jelly babies, bottle tornadoes, the list is endless. Anyone who has ever been on YouTube will have seen videos showcasing the emphatic properties of mentos and diet coke.   

Basically pop a mento into a bottle of diet coke and the reaction causes a geyser effect. The science is simple; the caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and CO₂ gas contained in the Diet Coke and the gelatin and gum arabic ingredients of the Mentos all contribute to the jet effect.

In addition the physical structure of the Mentos is the most significant cause of the eruption due to nucleation. The surface of the mint Mentos is littered with many small holes, allowing CO₂ bubbles to form very rapidly and in great quantity, in turn causing the jet of foam.  

Here are some videos of the emphatic results the reaction can cause.

On a serious note: do this experiment with the greatest of care and in a controlled environment. If you want to perform more experiments, take a look at some of our science courses.

Child Care

A Child Care studies course puts fun and learning together at the same time, it is a course that keeps on giving if you willing to put in the effort in and give back.

Whilst in the Classroom on the opening day, you see the usual tables and chairs, but the creativity just shines out from around. The walls have so much to look at, including hand made puppets, trips they have been on, and much more.

The course also offers great equipment and services, you have many books of study, to learn from and you also have practical elements to practice on.

We had the pleasure of one of the children playing with the sensory dough, and she loved it. She was not fazed by the cameras and just stayed content playing. The staff in the classroom are friendly and helpful, you can tell that they love what they do.

Fun all around, I think you might agree. For more information on the course please visit: http://www.bournville.ac.uk/home-en/employers/short-courses/childcare.aspx