Fridaygram: Global Impact, lunar mapping, transforming robot

December 07, 2012


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By Scott Knaster, Google Developers Blog Editor

This week Google Giving launched the Global Impact Awards, to recognize and reward achievements that use technology to improve people’s lives. The awards go to groups that have already accomplished dramatic results and provide continued funding so they can keep changing the world by providing clean water, protecting endangered species, and doing other wonderful things.



If you want to find out more about the Global Impact Awards, visit the home page, or learn about the other grant programs of Google Giving.

Meanwhile, near the moon, scientists have published the first mapping images from the tandem spacecraft Ebb and Flow, which reached lunar orbit about a year ago. This program, called GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory), uses the two spacecraft to study lunar features in great detail, providing unprecedented information about Earth’s moon. So far, the data shows craters, peaks, and volcanic formations, but no huge surprises like giant alien transformer robots.

Speaking of transformer robots, here’s one you can enjoy on video. Sure, it’s neither giant nor alien, but it’s still very cool, don’t you think? Have a great weekend!


On Fridays we depart from our usual developer topics and post a Fridaygram, which features interesting nerdy stuff for fun and knowledge. This week we acknowledge Walt Disney’s eleventy-first birthday, and the happy news that his creation Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will finally get a voice after 85 years of silence.