science newsletter: Newsletter for Thursday 11 October

Πέμπτη 11 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Newsletter for Thursday 11 October

Newsletter - 11 October - Today in Science History

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER - 11 OCTOBER

Feature for Today

On 11 Oct 1844, Henry John Heinz was born, one of those people whose name is instantly recognizable - in this case because of his famous "57 varieties" of food products. Yet, like a number of those other people, he remains enigmatic - seemingly so well-known - but someone you really don't know.

For example, do you know: How did he get started in the business? What did he believe in to create his success? How extensive was his philanthropy?

These questions are answered, with more background on this remarkable man, in a chapter on Henry John Heinz from Financial Giants of America (1893).

Book of the Day

On 11 Oct 1957, the Jodrell Bank radio telescope, the world's largest radio telescope, designed by Sir Bernard Lovell, began operating. Today's Science Store pick is Voice of the Universe: Building the Jodrell Bank Telescope, by Bernard Lovell, the man without whose perserverance, energy and faith the project would not have succeeded. He recounts the fascinating story of this huge telescope, fraught with mishaps and frustrations including financial and political. Price New $31.95. Also available Used from 27.95.
Yesterday's pick: Path Between The Seas : The Creation of the Panama Canal. For picks from earlier newsletters, see the Today in Science Science Store home page.

Quotations for Today
	"To do a common thing, uncommonly well, brings success." - Henry John Heinz, businessman who founded H.J. Heinz Co. (born 11 Oct 1844)
	"businessman who founded H.J. Heinz Co. (born 11 Oct 1844)" - Jean Henri Fabre, French entomologist (died 11 Oct 1915)
	"The animal frame, though destined to fulfill so many other ends, is as a machine more perfect than the best contrived steam-engine - that is, is capable of more work with the same expenditure of fuel." - James Prescott Joule, English chemist and inventor (died 11 Oct 1889)

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
	A German astronomer and physician, born 11 Oct 1758, is known for a paradox which asks "why is the night sky dark if there are so many bright stars all around to light it?" *Can you name this scientist?*
	Fausto Elhuyar, born 11 Oct 1755, was a Spanish chemist and mineralogist who in partnership with his brother Juan José was the first to isolate a new metallic element. (Carl Scheele in 1781 was first to recognize its elemental nature. It was found in a mineral which had been known since about 1758 by a Swedish name meaning "heavy stone".) *Can you name this element?*
Deaths
	James Prescott Joule (1818-1889) was an English physicist and inventor who established that the various forms of energy - mechanical, electrical, and heat - are basically the same. This knowledge became the basis of which law?
Events
	On 11 Oct of a certain year, the last hand-cranked (magneto) telephones in the United States went out of service as 440 telephone customers in Bryant Pond, Maine, were switched to direct-dial service. *In what decade was the hand-cranked telephone finally retired in the U.S.?*
	On 11 Oct 1957, the world's largest radio telescope, designed by Sir Bernard Lovell, began operating. Though the telescope is popularly known for tracking and communicating with man-made satellites, its prime function is the study of the universe by means of radio waves emitted by distatant stars. *What is the name of this telescope?*

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 October 11 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for October 10: a beam of electrons scattered by a crystal produces a diffraction pattern; hydrogen; the decade containing the year 1933; celluloid.

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