science newsletter: Newsletter for Saturday 29 September

Σάββατο 29 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

Newsletter for Saturday 29 September

Newsletter - September 29 - Today in Science History

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER - 29 SEPTEMBER

Feature for Today

On 29 Sep 1954, CERN was founded when the Centre Européenne de Recherche Nucléaire convention was ratified by the 12 founding Member States. CERN's Director General Robert Aymar, stated it "gave the new organization a mission to provide first class facilities, to coordinate fundamental research in particle physics, and to help reunite the countries of Europe after two world wars."

This was the culmination of efforts that had started a few years earlier. You can read some of the early history of the institution in newspaper articles (New York Times):

13 Dec 1949 - An Atom Institute Urged for Europe

6 Jun 1950 - An Atomic Center in Europe is Urged

Book of the Day

On 29 Sep 1901, Enrico Fermi was born, one of the chief architects of the nuclear age. Today's Science Store pick is Enrico Fermi, Physicist, by Emilio Segre. This well-researched biography of this brilliant master of physics and mathematics, was written by the pupil, Segre, both Nobel winners. Fermi's classic experiments on artificial radioactivity eventually yielded the atomic pile, the first controlled nuclear power. As one of Time Magazine's top 20 scientists, Fermi's work should be high on your reading list. Several available Used from $29.50.
Yesterday's pick: Louis Pasteur.
For picks from earlier newsletters, see the Today in Science Science Store home page.

Quotations for Today
	"Young man, if I could remember the names of these particles, I would have been a botanist." - Enrico Fermi, (born 29 Sep 1901)
	"Whatever Nature has in store for mankind, unpleasant as it may be, men must accept, for ignorance is never better than knowledge." - Enrico Fermi, (born 29 Sep 1901)
	"The human body is the only machine in which there are no spare parts." - Hermann M. Biggs, New York City's pioneering Public Health Officer (born 29 Sep 1859)

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
	Paul MacCready, born 29 Sep 1925, is an American aerodynamicist who headed a team that designed and built both the first man-powered aircraft and the first solar-powered aircraft capable of sustained flights. On 23 Aug 1977, the man-powered aircraft successfully demonstrated sustained, maneuverable manpowered flight. *Can you name this man-powered aircraft?*
	Enrico Fermi, physicist, born 29 Sep 1901 was one of the chief architects of the nuclear age. Working in America, he discovered neutron-induced radioactivity, and directed the first controlled chain reaction involving nuclear fission. *What was Fermi's nationality at the outbreak of World War II?*
Deaths
	Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) was a German thermal engineer who was also a distinguished connoisseur of the arts, a linguist, and a social theorist. *For what invention is he best known?*
Events
	On 29 Sep 1891, a U.S. patent was issued to an inventor for a "Process of and Apparatus for Generating Electricity" and on 29 Sep 1914, a patent for a "Phonograph-Record" was granted to the same man. *Who was this inventor?*

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 September 29 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for September 28: Seymour R. Cray; fluorine; Edwin Hubble; amino acids.

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