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| NEWSLETTER - JULY 4 |
| The 4th of July might be a major holiday in America, but a lot has taken place around the world on this day. Before you look at today's web page, see if you can answer some of these questions about the events that happened on July 4. 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 |
| An American cartoonist was born 4 Jul 1883 who satirized the American preoccupation with technology. His name became synonymous with any simple process made outlandishly complicated because of his series of "Invention" cartoons which use a string of outlandish tools, people, plants and steps to accomplish everyday simple tasks in the most complicated way. Can you name this man? |
| Henrietta Swan Leavitt, born 4 July 1868, was an American astronomer known for her discovery of the relationship between period and luminosity in Cepheid variables, pulsating stars that vary regularly in brightness in periods ranging from a few days to several months. In 1912, she announced what has since become known as the famous Period-Luminosity relation. What can be calculated using the Period-Luminosity relation? |
| Deaths |
| A scientist (1867-1934) who died of radiation poisoning before the need for protection was known, discovered two new elements. This scientist's family won five Nobel awards in two generations. Can you name this scientist? |
| A U.S. president died on 4 Jul 1826 who was throughout his lifetime an extraordinarily learned man, including interests in mathematics and natural sciences. He corresponded with such men as Joseph Priestley, and sometimes contributed time and money to progress in these fields. He collected and classified fossils. He was interested in the experiments being made in ballons and submarines. While visiting Europe, he sent home various mechanical and scientific gadgets produced including a polygraph and phosphorus matches. Can you name this man? |
| Events |
| On 24 Jul 1054, Chinese and other astronomers saw a supernova, a violently exploding star that was visible in daylight for 23 days and at night for almost 2 years. Rock paintings in North America suggest that Indians in Arizona and New Mexico saw it. There are no European records of the event. Can you name the nebula in the constellation Taurus that is believed to be remnants of this supernova? |
| On 4 Jul 1998, a country launched a spacecraft to become the third nation (after Russia and the U.S.) to reach for Mars. The spacecraft made two fly-bys of the Moon in Sep and Dec in order to reshape its trajectory for an intended arrival in a highly elliptical Mars Orbit in Oct 1999. Unfortunately, the attempt failed, and the plans were changed to alter the spacecraft's trajectory to reach Mars in 2003. The mission was designed to measure the interaction between the solar wind and Martian upper atmosphere. Which country is making this attempt to visit Mars ? |
| In 1997, the Mars Pathfinder, an unmanned U.S. space vehicle, reached the Martain atmosphere. The descent was braked by a heat shield, a parachute and rockets. Using a new NASA effort for "cheaper, faster, better," the Mars Pathfinder used airbags to cushion its landing on the surface. It carried Sojourner, a 10-kg (22-lb) wheeled rover device designed to travel slowly across the surface of Mars taking photographs and collect other scientific data. How many months did it take to travel from Earth to Mars? |
| 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 4 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 3: finding the surface with minimal area; determined by a fixed boundary; Major William Crawford Gorgas; Midway; John Couch Adams. |
| Feedback |
| If you enjoy this newsletter, the website, or wish to offer encouragement or ideas please use the feedback link on the website. |
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