science newsletter: Newsletter for Sunday 8 July

Newsletter - July 8 - Today in Science History

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER - 8 JULY

Feature for Today

Book of the Day

On 8 Jul 1831, American pharmacist John Styth Pemberton was born, whose invention (1885) is known internationally, though his name remains little known. Since naming his invention is in the quiz below, it its name is missing from the book title here, but today's Science Store pick is: For God, Country, and ... The Definitive History of ... and the Company That Makes It, by Mark Pendergrast. The book tells the story of this invention from its origins, with vivid portraits of the entrepreneurs who founded the company that made it dominant in the new industry. Price $24.00, save 31%, New $16.64. Also available Used from $3.17 (as of time of writing).

Yesterday's pick: The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control, by Ian Wilmut, et al.

For picks from earlier newsletters, see the Today in Science Science Store home page.

Quotations for Today
	"The year that Rutherford died (1938 (sic)) there disappeared forever the happy days of free scientific work which gave us such delight in our youth. Science has lost her freedom. Science has become a productive force. She has become rich but she has become enslaved and part of her is veiled in secrecy. I do not know whether Rutherford would continue to joke and laugh as he used to." - Pyotr Kapitsa, Soviet physicist (born 8 Jul 1894)
	"Comprehension, inventiveness, direction, and criticism: intelligence is contained in these four words." - Alfred Binet, French psychologist (born 8 Jul 1857)
	"It troubles me that we are so easily pressured by purveyors of technology into permitting so-called ‘progress’ to alter our lives without attempting to control it—as if technology were an irrepressible force of nature to which we must meekly submit." - Hyman G. Rickover, Polish-American naval officer (died 8 Jul 1986)

QUIZ
Before you look at today's web page, see if you can answer some of these questions about the events that happened on this day. Some of the names are very familiar. Others will likely stump you. Tickle your curiosity with these questions, then check your answers on today's web page.
Births
	One of the most famous pioneers of aviation was born 8 July 1838 in Germany. He was the airship designer and first builder of the rigid dirigible airships now known after his name. At first, some of his fellow citizens in his town, incredulous of his inventions, called him "Foolish Count". His first airship took off in July 1900 at Lake Constance, on the Swiss-German border. Can you name this inventor?
	John Styth Pemberton was a pharmacist, born 8 July 1831, who invented a tonic in 1885. Later he modified the formula by omitting the alcohol and adding other vegetable essences. The new syrup was meant to be a sure cure for headaches. Pemberton later sold the recipe, equipment and machinery to manufacture the drink to Asa G. Candler for $1200. What was Pemberton's invention?
Deaths
	Hyman Rickover (1900-1986) was a Polish-American who eventually became an Admiral and served on active duty with the United States Navy for more than 63 years, receiving exemptions from the mandatory retirement age due to his critical service to the Navy. *What was his major contribution to Navy technology?*
	A Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and physicist (1629-1695) founded the wave theory of light, discovered the true shape of the rings of Saturn, and made original contributions to the science of dynamics - the study of the action of forces on bodies. *Can you name this man?*
Events
	On 8 Jul of a certain year, the first successful vaccination performed in the U.S. using cowpox serum to prevent smallpox was given by Harvard's Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse upon his five year-old son, Daniel, in Massachusetts. Waterhouse was one of the best educated American physicians of his time. Following the latest claims by Edward Jenner, he imported cowpox vaccine for his son and a servant boy. Waterhouse continued vaccinating with success, but in the rush to follow him, others administered impure vaccine and some people died; there was a backlash. Stressing the necessity of pure vaccine, he continued to promote vaccination and was instrumental in its success in America. What was the decade in which Waterhouse vaccinated his son?
	On 8 Jul 1881, a patron came into Edward Berner's drug store in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and sat down at the soda-fountain counter. Since it was the Sabbath, the customer couldn't have the desirable, but scandalous, flavored soda water. Berner compromised by putting ice cream in a dish and poured over it the chocolate syrup that was previously only served as flavoring in ice-cream sodas. By what name is this dish now known?

Answers

When you have your answers ready to all the questions above, you'll find all the information to check them, and more, on the July 8 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for July 7: 11 year sunspot cycle; punched cards; later applied by Hollerith to processing 1890 US census data; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Phillips-head screw; M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge University.

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