Mom Talk

Blowing Minds, Having Fun at TEDxBeaconStreet

TEDxBeaconStreet promises to introduce a wealth of ideas to adults and kids, in a weekend of participatory events and super-short speeches.

 There is a vocational path from balloon-twisting artist to NASA flight engineer, and this weekend Joseph Maydell will demonstrate that connection at TEDxBeaconStreet. Instead of the squeaky, air-filled latex tubes Mr. Maydell once used in his old part-time gig to entertain kids, he’ll use a giant weather balloon and its attached camera and computer. During the balloon’s flight, families on the field at the Lincoln School in Brookline will get a real-time look at Earth’s beauty from 20 miles up in the atmosphere. Inspired by the video coming from the International Space Station one night at work, Maydell knew he wanted to share with non-NASA folks the spectacular view of Earth from space. So last year he finished developing a weather …

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