#Science History

[dndspellgifs]

look, I know I've talked about this essay (?) before but like,

If you ever needed a good demonstration of the quote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", have I got an exercise for you.

Somebody made a small article explaining the basics of atomic theory but it's written in Anglish. Anglish is basically a made-up version of English where they remove any elements (words, prefixes, etc) that were originally borrowed from romance languages like french and latin, as well as greek and other foreign loanwords, keeping only those of germanic origin.

What happens is an english which is for the most part intelligible, but since a lot everyday english, and especially the scientific vocabulary, has has heavy latin and greek influence, they have to make up new words from the existing germanic-english vocabulary. For me it kind of reads super viking-ey.

Anyway when you read this article on atomic theory, in Anglish called Uncleftish Beholding, you get this text which kind of reads like a fantasy novel. Like in my mind it feels like it recontextualizes advanced scientific concepts to explain it to a viking audience from ancient times.

Even though you're familiar with the scientific ideas, because it bypasses the normal language we use for these concepts, you get a chance to examine these ideas as if you were a visitor from another civilization - and guess what, it does feel like it's about magic. It has a mythical quality to it, like it feels like a book about magic written during viking times. For me this has the same vibe as reading deep magic lore from a Robert Jordan book.

[othmeralia]

When you accidentally type “moon faces” into Google instead of “moon phases.” Oops!⁠ ⁠ This resting moon face is from Liber Chronicarum (1493).⁠

[arconinternet]

Your Trip Into Space (Book, Lynn Poole, 1953)

You can digitally borrow it here.

[nazrigar]

It's the 200th anniversary of Megalosaurus' description.

Happy Birthday to the ORIGINAL Dinosaur!

[lichenaday]

hi!! I was doing some research for a lil project a while back, and I stumbled across the funniest article of all time imo. You probably know about it given lichens and all that, but if you haven't I think it would be a shame to be missing out on it.

I'm not sure if Tumblr blocks links on anon so it's A Short History of Lichenology by Charles C. Plitt! Favorite quotes include:

Even Linnaeus dubbed them the "rustici pauperrimi" of vegetation, which has been quite properly translated, the "poor trash" of vegetation.

It goes without saying, that most of these ideas were not founded upon direct observations, but were merely opinions.

It invests them as a spider her prey, with a fine meshed web, which gradually is converted into an impregnable integument, but, whilst the spider sucks out her prey and throws it aside when dead, the Fungus stimulates the Algae, found in its net, to more lively activity, in fact, causes them to grow larger and causes thereby a luxuriant growth and the thrifty appearance of the whole colony.

- @hotmushroompics

Oh my gosh I love old descriptions of lichens. First off, Linnaeus, RUDE. I can't believe that guy. Second, so much lichenology still rests in the realm of opinion since lichen observation is difficult. Why do they do everything so slowly??? Third, not a good enough reason to use the word "stimulate," but ok, whatever. I will have to make a post on historical lichenology one of these days. It's so fascinating and dramatic, and includes a long-standing feud between Beatrix Potter (yes THAT Beatrix Potter) and the Linnean Society (sexist asshats).

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Case Study: Liberty Ships Failure

In the 1940s, the US built over 2700 vessels referred to as the Liberty Ships. While it was far from the majority (most of the sunken Liberty ships were a result of German attacks), several of the Liberty ships suffered sudden, catastrophic failures that would go on to change the field of failure analysis. Examples include that of the Schenectady, pictured above cracked in half. These ship failures are perhaps some of the best well known examples of materials failure, often taught (or at least mentioned) in introductory classes.

While there were a number of mechanisms that led to the failure of the ships, one of the most cited causes is the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT). Once the ships entered colder waters the structure of the steel changed and fracture occurred. The DBTT was actually discovered as a result of these failures by metallurgist Constance Tipper, of Cambridge. As expected, the thousands of Liberty ships had a significant impact during World War II, but, more unexpected, they had a significant impact on physical metallurgy.

Sources/Further Reading: (Image source - 2016 article) (2015 article) (University of Cambridge)

[oldbooksarchive]

Iconographic Encyclopedia Of Science Literature And Art 1851 Volume 1 (1851)

[dailyhistoryposts]

On This Day In History

March 6th, 1665: The first issue of the longest-running scientific journal in the world, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, was published.

March 6th, 1869: Dmitri Mendeleev presents to the Periodic Table of the Elements for the first time.

[curiosityistheleastofmyproblems]

Illustration of a skull

Wellcome collection

[teachersource]

Nichelle Nichols was born on December 28, 1932. An American actress, singer, and dancer best known for her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in Star Trek and its film sequels. Nichols’ portrayal of Uhura was groundbreaking for African American actresses on American television. From 1977 until 2015, Nichols volunteered her time to promote NASA’s programs and recruit diverse astronauts, including some of the first female and ethnic minority astronauts. When she considered leaving Star Trek, Martin Luther King, Jr. asked her to stay, citing her influence on black women and children who could see themselves reflected on television as equals. Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison has cited Nichols’ role of Lieutenant Uhura as her inspiration for wanting to become an astronaut .

[historysurvivalguide]

So, How to Build an Astrolabe: Part Two

Plate to represent the Tropics and the Equator

The construction continues into part two!

The middle plate--known as the Tympan--is perhaps the most complex piece of the entire astrolabe, so I am going to be breaking it into a few parts to make it more readable

The first part starts with just three concentric circles for the Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Equator.

No math needed!

This is a step-by-step guide to the complete construction of an astrolabe that I think might exist. At least, in any accessible form.

My goal is for this to be as accessible as possible for any kind of reader, so if there are any question, free free to reach out

🚀 Enjoy! Stay safe and keep learning, fellow chrononauts 🚀

[othmeralia]

Look! It's freakin' bats. I love Halloween.

Image from: A philosophical account of the works of nature (1721) by Richard Bradley

[pol-ski]

Nicolaus Copernicus (Konstanty Laszczka, Polish sculptor)

Happy birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus!

Nicolaus Copernicus (February 19, 1473 — May 24, 1543) is primarily known as an exceptional astronomer who formulated the true model of the solar system, which led to an unprecedented change in the human perception of Earth’s place in the universe. This great Pole, who is rightly included among the greatest minds of the European Renaissance, was also a clergyman, a mathematician, a physician, a lawyer and a translator. He also proved himself as an effective strategist and military commander, leading the defence of Olsztyn against the attack of the German Monastic Order of the Teutonic Knights. Later on, he exhibited great organizational skills, quickly rebuilding and relaunching the economy of the areas devastated by the invasion of the Teutonic Knights. He also served in diplomacy and participated in the works of the Polish Sejm.

Copernicus’ scientific achievements in the field of economics were equally significant, and place him among the greatest authors of the world economic thought. In 1517 Copernicus wrote a treatise on the phenomenon of bad money driving out good money. He noted that the“debasement of coin” was one of the main reasons for the collapse of states. He was therefore one of the first advocates of modern monetary policy based on the unification of the currency in circulation, constant care for its value and the prevention of inflation, which ruins the economy. In money he distinguished the ore value (valor) and the estimated value (estimatio), determined by the issuer. According to Copernicus, the ore value of a good coin should correspond to its estimated value. This was not synonymous, however, with the reduction of the coin to a piece of metal being the subject of trade in goods. The ore contained in the money was supposed to be the guarantee of its price, and the value of the legal tender was assigned to it by special symbols proving its relationship with a given country and ruler. Although such views are nothing new today, in his time they constituted a milestone in the development of economic thought.

Additionally Copernicus was not only a theorist of finance, but he was also the co-author of a successful monetary reform, later also implemented in other countries. It was Copernicus, the first of the great Polish economists, who in 1519 proposed to King Sigismund I the Old to unify the monetary system of the Polish Crown with that of its subordinate Royal Prussia. The principles described in the treatise published in 1517 were decades later repeated by the English financier Thomas Gresham and are currently most often referred to around the world as Gresham’s law. Historical truth, however, requires us to restore the authorship of this principle to its creator, for example through the popularization of knowledge about the Copernicus-Gresham Law. (© NBP - We protect the value of money).

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Throwback Thursday: Georg Bauer

Born in 1494 in Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire, Georg Bauer, better known as Georgius Agricola would become known as the father of minerology. He did not set out to study rocks or even the natural sciences...he got a bachelor's of arts degree. He really liked Ancient Greek.

However, he did pursue learning in chemistry, physics and medicine. He became a physician and even mayor at one point.

But, his most important contribution to geology was that he wrote several books. One was called De re metallica libri xii. This book outlined applications of mining, refining and smelting metals, discussed ore bodies, surveying, and mine construction and ventilation.

Another was De ortu et causis subterraneorum which is considered foundational in modern physical geology.

Tune in tomorrow for Fossil Friday and a brand new discovery!

[thoughtportal]

Before 1933, Germany was a center of LGBT+ community and culture, with several renowned organizations serving and supporting trans and gender non-conforming people. Hitler’s Nazi government, however, brutally targeted the trans community, deporting many trans people to concentration camps and wiping out vibrant community structures. As transgender people are now increasingly targets of discriminatory legislation and hate, join the Museum for a program exploring these stories and experiences prior to and during the Holocaust.

This panel conversation will feature Dr. Anna Hájková, Associate Professor of Modern European Continental History at the University of Warwick; Dr. Katie Sutton, Associate Professor of German and Gender Studies, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics at Australian National University; and Dr. Bodie A. Ashton, a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at Universität Erfurt, with moderator Rabbi Marisa Elana James, Director of Social Justice Programming at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

André Guinier (1 August 1911 – 3 July 2000)

A French scientist, André Guinier lived, was educated, and worked in the country of his birth. His initial degrees were in the field of physics, followed by a doctorate thesis on X-ray crystallography. His work on this latter topic is perhaps one of the things he is most well known for, including the development of small-angle X-ray scattering. In the field of metallurgy, however, he is also well known for his work on age- and precipitation-hardening of alloys, specifically aluminum-copper alloys. He shares credit with G.D. Preston (who independently researched the same phenomena) for these observations and the Guinier–Preston zone is named in honor of both of them.

Sources/Further Reading: (Image source - 2019 article) (IUCr) (SFMC) (1955 article) (Wikipedia)