Andrew's Fun Facts
It was in 1965 when the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was completed. The Arch is known as the “Gateway to the West” and was designed by Eero Saarinen and Hannskarl Bandel. The creators of the Arch used complex geometric equations to help draw up the blue prints. The Arch is made from stainless steel and reinforced concrete. It stands 630 feet tall and is 630 feet wide at its base. The Arch is hollow and contains a tram that runs up to the observation deck at the top. In the case of an emergency there are 2 stairwells that lead from the top of the Arch to the ground, each with 1,076 steps!
A supernova is when a star dies and explodes. Supernova 1987A occurred 168,000 light years away from the earth. Even though the supernova was first visible on earth in 1987, it actually occurred 168,000 years ago. When we look at the stars we are actually looking into the past. It takes time, sometimes a very long time, for light from different stars to reach the earth. In the case of the 1987 supernova it took 168,000 years for the light created by the supernova to reach the earth. Light from our sun by comparison takes about 8 minutes to reach the earth.
It was on this day, September 20, 1954 when the computer program known as FORTRAN was first run. FORTRAN stands for FORmula TRANslating System. It was created by John Backus who worked for IBM. The original version physically used punch cards that were put into the machine. The FORTRAN program itself has been upgraded numerous times since it was created. Previous versions of FORTRAN include FORTRAN 66, FORTRAN 77 and the current form, FORTRAN 2003. FORTRAN continues to be used extensively by engineers and scientists. FORTRAN is also commonly used in numerical weather prediction.
It was in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol was signed. So what is the Montreal Protocol? It’s an international treaty that was designed to protect the O-Zone Layer. Man-made CFC’s or chlorofluorocarbons, used in some air conditioners and refrigerators pose a threat to the O-Zone Layer. So an effort was made to limit and phase out the production of molecules and substances that destroy the O-Zone Layer. Currently there are 191 nations that are in compliance with Montreal Protocol. The Protocol has been hailed as an environmental success and because of that success the growth of the hole in the O-Zone Layer over Antarctica has been limited in recent years.
Weather Almanac Data
Weather LinksContact Us
|
WSBT WeatherWSBT Weather
Stock QuotesYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule
7.00
Paid Programming
7.30
Jeopardy
8.00
NCIS: Los Angeles
9.00
Strikeforce/M-1 Global Fights
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
CSI: NY
12.35
CSI: NY
1.35
CSI: Miami
Question of The DayMost Popular
|
Sat, Nov 7
South Bend
Hey weather fans and science buffs! Do you like interesting science and weather facts? This is the place to find them! Check back every week for new info and cool facts. You can also check out the South Bend Tribune's weather section on Saturday and Sunday for my science facts too! If you have any weather/science questions you want answered send me an email at 
