Yesterday, I was honored to attend the world premiere of the new IMAX film, Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France. The screening was held at the Sony Theater in New York City with members of the press, neuroscientists from a dozen institutions, an amazing cast and crew, and the eloquent Alfred Molina (narrator for the film). Wired to Win explores the amazing physical challenges of the Tour de France and the cyclists who find it's as much a feat of strength as it is the ultimate test of the human brain.

Even after producing the educational materials for the film, seeing the story unfold on the giant screen was incredibly moving and exciting. Mr. Molina offered these fitting remarks: "Our goals may not be those of pro athletes, but we're all wiring ourselves to win. Any activity that challenges us, and gives us a sense of purpose, will nourish and strengthen our brains... We fall, we get up, we learn. Powered by the human brain, there is no end to what we may achieve."

On January 17, 1706, the Franklins of Boston welcomed the newest member to their large family: Ben. Life was never the same after that... for the family, or America. The tercentenary celebration of one of our most beloved founding fathers kicked off in grand style this year (with a beautiful website produced by Terra Incognita). An international exhibition and educational alliance are reintroducing the world to Benjamin Franklin: the ultimate printer, inventor, writer, diplomat, and ladies man.

The National Constitution Center is currently hosting the exhibition, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, before it launches on its tour, ending in Paris two years from now. One of the highlights is Ben's personal copy of the Constitution, exquisitely preserved. Oh, and if you find yourself in Philadelphia for the festivities, be sure to stop by the Franklin Fountain for a proper ice cream and phosphate. This working 1900s era saloon salutes Philly's main man with treats like the "Franklin Mint" and the "Lightning Rod"... tell Ryan and Eric I sent you!

Nothing melts the lingering cold of winter (Mother Nature needs to check her calendar...) like a promising summer movie lineup. First from the animation department, Pixar's long-awaited (and already acclaimed) Cars and the computer-modulated A Scanner Darkly from Warner Independent. Of course, you can't go wrong with good sequels: X-Men 3 (beast!) and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (arrrr!). And for good measure, a couple late bloomers waiting for the frenzy of fall: an ethereal book adaptation of The Fountain and a delightfully silly dance number for Happy Feet.

When we look up into the night sky, we see a dazzling, quiet blanket of stars rolling out before us; a tranquil and unchanging view. Nothing could be further from the truth.

At the American Museum of Natural History, we're setting out to dispel that myth with our stunning new planetarium show, Cosmic Collisions. In a half-hour, you go on a ride through space like none other: watch a meteor shower from upstate New York, see the formation of the Moon (pictured here), watch the impact that wiped out most of the dinosaurs, and witness our galaxy colliding with another billions of years into the future. And it's all so real you get goosebumps... almost like you could reach out and touch it (or at least feel it, as your seats rattle with each dramatic boom).

We've been busy getting ready for this show at the Museum for several months now (the show itself was two years in the making). In the Education Department, it's our job to prepare awesome resources to complement stuff like this. So we created a beautiful educator's guide, a nifty interactive with photos of the Sun, a classroom activity produced with Scholastic.com, and a documentary feature about asteroids for our Science Bulletins site. Then we organized all these resources together in a special collection on the Museum's site.

Meanwhile, the press has been all praise this week. Here's a sampling: the New York Times says "If this show were a symphony, the section on the Sun and the aurora would be a flute solo, but most of us will have come for the crescendos, the planet-cleansing life-changing events, the big booms." Watch a video from NY1. And here's a behind-the-scenes look at the show that ran in the Times a few weeks ago. More press: Newsday, ABC News, and Seed Magazine

Plan a trip now: this is one show you don't want to miss!

A cool March wind greeted me this morning as I walked to the train, briskly coming off the harbor and up past the lofty old buildings downtown. And yet, it was an unseasonably 58 degrees... no coat necessary. After a week in Lake Tahoe under a blanket of five feet of fresh snow, this early spring is a bit shocking to the system. Confused New Yorkers lined the subway platform, either overdressed in too many layers or underdressed in a threadbare teeshirt. Give it a week or two and we'll figure it out. Pale Male and Lola certainly have: a new nest has been announced by bird watchers, a ritual that marks spring as much as the budding trees lining the Hudson or the St. Patrick's Day Parade next Saturday on Fifth Avenue.

Zooming into a planetarium near you: Cosmic Collisions, the new space show at the American Museum of Natural History. Stay tuned for full coverage next week. This one's going to be big.

Sheryl Crow released Wildflower this past fall, just over a decade since her debut album. She described this set of eleven new songs as a more grown-up, mature, and introspective sound. Her Best Of album in 2003 "was really the end of a chapter in my artistic life, and this is like my first record." Originally, Sheryl planned two releases, but once the recording was completed in February 2005, she decided to condense them into one collection. Wildflower is a beautiful and solid body of work with a subtle if not bittersweet edge. This is reflected both the lyrics and stunning music video for "Good is Good":

And everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightening strikes
And does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times pass you by

Sheryl dedicated the album to Lance Armstrong and even postponed releasing it until September, well after the limelight of his seventh Tour de France victory was fading. Since then, she had an amiable split with Lance and recently revealed her struggle with breast cancer, postponing a spring tour for Wildflower.

Lance, known for his phenomenal Livestrong campaign for cancer research, stated: "Once again I'm reminded of just how pervasive this illness is, as it has now touched someone I love deeply." And Sheryl, in her announcement of a successful surgery, remarked "I am inspired by the brave women who have faced this battle before me and grateful for the support of family and friends."

My friend Joannou wanted my picks for the top three blogs, both in terms of design and content. I couldn't narrow it down, so I gave him these seven:

Best Overall: Jason Kottke
Best Organization and IA: Khoi Vinh
Best Readability and CSS: Dan Cederholm
Best Sidebar and Writing: Greg Storey
Best Prioritized Entries and Archive: Garrett Dimon
Best Use of Photography and Tags: Chris Glass
Honorable Mention: Coudal Partners