science newsletter: Newsletter for Wednesday 3 April

Τετάρτη 3 Απριλίου 2013

Newsletter for Wednesday 3 April

Newsletter - April 3 - Today in Science History

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER - 3 APRIL

Feature for Today

Book of the Day

On 3 April 1896, Ralph A. Bagnold was born, the English geologist who was a leading authority on the mechanics of sediment transport and on eolian (wind-effect) processes. While a career soldier, serving in Egypt prior to WW II, he first studied sand dune formation and movement. Today's Science Store pick is Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Dunes, by Ralph A. Bagnold. On this subject, he remains the authority, and he writes in an accessible style. Available Used from $10.63 (as of time of writing).

Yesterday's pick: The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, by Henry Petroski,

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

Quotations for Today
	"Some humans are mathematicians—others aren't. " - Jane Goodall, English scientist (born 3 Apr 1934)
	"In my opinion the separation of the c- and ac-stars is the most important advancement in stellar classification since the trials by Vogel and Secchi ... To neglect the c-properties in classifying stellar spectra, I think, is nearly the same thing as if a zoologist, who has detected the deciding differences between a whale and a fish, would continue classifying them together." - Hermann Carl Vogel, German astronomer (born 3 Apr 1842)
	"All children are curious and I wonder by what process this trait becomes developed in some and suppressed in others. I suspect again that schools and colleges help in the suppression insofar as they meet curiosity by giving the answers, rather than by some method that leads from narrower questions to broader questions. It is hard to satisfy the curiosity of a child, and even harder to satisfy the curiosity of a scientist, and methods that meet curiosity with satisfaction are thus not apt to foster the development of the child into the scientist. I don't advocate turning all children into professional scientists, although I think there would be advantages if all adults retained something of the questioning attitude, if their curiosity were less easily satisfied by dogma, of whatever variety." - Marston Bates, American zoologist (died 3 Apr 1974)

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
	Jane Goodall, born 3 Apr 1934, is a British ethologist, known for her exceptionally detailed and long-term research since 1960, the longest-running study of its kind in the natural habitat. *What are the subjects of her study?*
	Charles Wilkes, born 3 Apr 1798, was an American oceanographer, who led the first major ocean expedition (1838-42), which circled the globe, during which he identified and named a new continent. *Which continent did he name?*
Deaths
	Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni (1756-1827) was a German physicist, known as the "father of acoustics" for his mathematical investigations of sound waves. Chladni figures are certain complex patterns of vibration displaying stationary nodal lines. *How are Chladni figures displayed?*
Events
	On 3 Apr of a certain year, the first portable phone call was placed by inventor Martin Cooper. The phone weighed 30-oz, yet replaced replaced a car phone of the time that weighed more than 30 pounds. *In which decade was the first portable phone call made?*
	On 3 Apr of a certain year, a British patent application for the first catseye road marker was recorded for inventor Percy Shaw (1889-1975). Shaw started Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd. to manufacture these familiar reflectors which mark the lane lines that are lit up at night by the lights of passing vehicles. *In which decade did Shaw record his first catseye patent?*

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 April 3 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for April 2: Field's Medal; Hermann Rorschach; the decade including the year 1838; Francis Crick and James Watson; aluminium.

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