Chris Thompson   Chris Thompson on the internet

Before I call it a day, I feel it only fitting to end on a light note.

I was browsing the Times Online, and stumbled across this: a piece of Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree will soon defy gravity (ironic, eh?) when it is carried into space on the next Nasa shuttle mission.

Mr Newton is, of course, widely regarded as being one of the greatest scientists of his era, and is certainly one of the most famous faces around.

Perhaps his most well-known and popular story is the discovery of gravity. As the story goes, Sir Isaac claimed to have been inspired by a falling apple in his garden to investigate the theory of gravitation.

Now, after the spaceflight, the tree sample and picture will be returned to the Royal Society.

Lord Rees, the academic institution’s current president, said it was “both pleased and proud that such an extraordinary part of scientific history and important element of the Royal Society’s archive collection can make this historic trip into space”.

The piece of tree and picture of Sir Isaac will go on to form part of the History of the Royal Society exhibition that the society will be holding later this year, and, after that, will become more of a permanent exhibit.