New Book! Enigmas and Mysteries from the Sea | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

Buques Fantasma; Desapariciones Misteriosas; Criptozoología; Faros encantados; Submarinos perdidos; Expediciones malditas

Are there rogue waves and other sea phenomena capable of engulfing a ship in seconds?
What is really the Flying Dutchman? Do Ghost Ships actually exist?
Do more ships go missing in the Bermuda Triangle than elsewhere?
What was the fate of the missing Franklin Expedition?

The sea is full of mysteries and unusual events that science has not yet been able to explain. Events that, even for seafarers or scholars, are still unknown. Since ancient times, many legends about the enigmas of the oceans have been passed from generation to generation and, although some have been classified as mere myths, others continue to put the scientific community in check.

The purpose of the author, a professional sailor and diver himself, is none other than to analyze many of the most famous arcana that occurred in the seven seas from the perspective of healthy skepticism.

In these pages we will discover that much of what we think we know is nothing more than noise that diverts our attention from the real unknowns. We will embark on an amazing journey to the ocean depths to discover all its immensity. Embark. You will never see the ocean the same way again

Sputnik Crisis and Vanguard – Space Race 1957 | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

The soviet success in putting not one, but satellites in earth orbit in less than a month started a general anxiety among US citizens. It looked as in any moment a nuclear bomb could fall over their heads. Anyway, there was an apparent huge gap in military technology between both countries…

Well, no. Both countries where paired. In fact Wernher von Braun’s and his team had been prohibited to attempt to launch any satellite, in spite of having the capabilities to do so a year before Sputnik was flown. But nothing stopped the fear, fueled by a disinformed and sensationalistic media.

Eisenhower’s answer was to be the Vanguard, a satellite/rocket civil project meant to show US citizes that their country was up to the challenge. The problem was that it all blew up to the sky… literally.

 

Sputnik 2 and Laika – Space Race 1957 | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

A month after changing history with their Sputnik, Soviet engineers, led by Sergei Korolev, once again surprised the world. This time it was not a simple ball with a radio; they had managed to put a living being into orbit: the dog Laika.

We will learn how and why it was decided to sacrifice Laika at the same time that we will clarify some of the myths and lies that even today continue to hide what really happened before and after the Sputnik 2 mission.

Laika was not –far from it– the first living being to reach space, which is not the same as entering orbit. We will know something about other animals, such as monkeys or dogs that were released beyond the Karman line before the Russian dog; some managed to return, although many were not so lucky.

Laika had led the way. It wouldn’t take long for her to be followed by a human.

 

Sputnik 1 – Space Race 1957 | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

Today we begin with the official start of the Space Race, the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the event that changed history forever.

But first we will try to understand how the Soviets, who had barely gained access to Nazi missile technology, managed in a very short time and without outside help to surpass von Braun’s designs and his team from Peenemünde.

We will get to know the mysterious character of the “Chief Designer”, the alias that hid the true identity of the great Sergei Korolyov, who would not be known in the West or in the Soviet Union itself until his death in 1966 and the process of creating his R-7, the first rocket to place an artificial object in orbit.

And of course, Sputnik. That glowing sphere with antennae that just beeped, but changed the world while creating widespread hysteria in the West.

See you up there!

Acknowledgements: Mercedes Pullman

 

Apollo Lunar Mission (Part III) – from the Moon to the Earth | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

We have reached the Moon! Now it’s time to get out of the ship and explore. Or as they say in jargon: extravehicular activity. We’ll take some samples, plant the flag (yes, the one that does NOT wave) and do a little science.

Missions 15 to 17 carried a lunar rover, which allowed them to expand their exploration radius; We will see how such a curious vehicle worked. After finishing our activity, we just have to pack up our gear, do some last minute science… and return to Earth.

We will learn what it was like to take off from the Moon, the rendezvous in orbit with the Command and Service Module (CSM) and the return trip. To round it off, the infernal re-entry, the splashdown… and the ticker tape parade.

Now that we have seen the end, next week we will start at the beginning: Sputnik.

See you up there!

 

Apollo Lunar Mission (Part II) – from the orbit to the Moon | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

The second part of our example mission to the Moon begins in parking orbit around the Earth. From there we will carry out the Translunar Injection, which will take us –if all goes well– to the far side of our satellite.

Along the way we will learn the different maneuvers and procedures used by astronauts and Mission Control, while understanding some of the jargon of this type of business.

All that remains is to start the descent, land on the moon, plant the flag and say a few words, but we will leave the latter for the last chapter of the series.

We hope you enjoy these more than 300,000 km of flight. Remember that if you want to subscribe you have to pet the cat…

See you up there!

 

Apollo Lunar Mission (Part I) – from the Earth to Orbit | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

With images obtained from NASA and through 3D animations we have tried to recreate a complete Apollo lunar mission, using various moments of each real mission, from the ill-fated Apollo 1, to the last to reach our satellite, Apollo 17.

This video is the prologue to our new series on the space race. Only that in order to better understand that piece of our History we have preferred to start at the end, so we can clearly see what the goal really was.

Comments are welcome, as well as suggestions on any topic related to the Space Race that you would like us to cover in future documentaries. We hope you enjoy.

See you up there!

 

Jack the Ripper – Realidad Transcendente | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

Such an honor to participate in the second program of “Realidad Transcendente”.

Santiago Vázquez interviews us about the world of Jack the Ripper, giving a free reign to freedom of opinion. We talked about how beliefs are toxic at the time of investigating and creating an opinion in a case like this, and many other things.

 

Direct download

 

The Jack the Ripper Letters | Yvan Figueiras

Vanya

We put in context the most important letters attributed to Jack the Ripper: the one received on September 24, the “Dear Boss” letter, the “Saucy Jacky” postcard and, of course, the sinister “From Hell”, which came accompanied of half a human kidney.

Were any of them written by the infamous Whitechapel and Spitalfields killer?

You can find more information in my work “Jack el Destripador: caso abierto (Jack the Ripper: open case)”, from Odeon publishing http://www.editorialodeon.com/tienda/Catalog/show/jack-el-destripador-caso-abierto-426182

We hope you will be entertained and informed!