Nine To Noon Simon Winchester's new book
Nov 11, 2025
Bestselling author and historian Simon Winchester delves into the fascinating world of wind in his latest book. He recounts how listening to the BBC Shipping Forecast sparked his curiosity. Winchester recalls his visit to Mount Washington, humorously noting an absence of wind on a birthday there. He explains the basics of wind, shares the story of the Apollo flag on the moon, and traces the origins of sailing. The discussion also spans the cultural significance of regional winds, the Wahine disaster, and the impact of climate change on wind patterns.
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Birthday At The Windiest Summit
- Simon celebrated his 80th birthday at Mount Washington, the site of the world wind-speed record, expecting dramatic winds.
- Instead he found a rare calm that illustrated the phenomenon called global terrestrial stilling.
Wind Is Movement From Heat Differences
- Wind is simply moving air caused by an atmosphere and a heat source that warms air and makes it rise.
- Cooler air moves in to fill gaps and that lateral flow is what we experience as wind.
Why The Moon Flag 'Blew' In Photos
- Simon recounts why the American flag on the Moon looked to be fluttering despite no lunar atmosphere.
- Engineers used a kinked horizontal rod to fake a flutter and the lunar module's exhaust later blew the flag down.
