Newsletter for Monday 14 April

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY NEWSLETTER - 14 APRIL

Feature for Today

Book of the Day

On 14 Apr 1692, Christiaan Huygens was born, Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, who founded the wave theory of light, discovered the true shape of the rings of Saturn, and contributed to the science of dynamics.  Today's Science Store pick is Unrolling Time: Christiaan Huygens and the Mathematization of Nature, by Joella G. Yoder, who offers a detailed account of the discoveries that Huygens made, the way that each of these important discoveries arose from the interaction of Huygens' mathematics and physics, and the role of Huygens in the rise of applied mathematics.. A discussion of Huygens' relationship with other scientists and the priority disputes that sometimes motivated his research help place his work in the context of the period. New $53.00, Save 7% Price $49.95. (as of time of writing). Yesterday's pick: Richard Trevithick: Giant of Steam, by Anthony Burton, For picks from earlier newsletters, see the Today in Science Science Store home page.

Quotations for Today
	"Tedious as it may appear to some to dwell on the discovery of odds and ends that have, no doubt, been thrown away by the owner as rubbish ... yet it is by the study of such trivial details that Archaeology is mainly dependent for determining the date of earthworks." - Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, English archaeologist often called the "father of British archaeology," who stressed the need for total excavation of sites, thorough stratigraphic observation and recording, and prompt and complete publication  (born 14 Apr 1827)
	"...great difficulties are felt at first and these cannot be overcome except by starting from experiments .. and then be conceiving certain hypotheses ... But even so, very much hard work remains to be done and one needs not only great perspicacity but often a degree of good fortune." - Christiaan Huygens, Dutch physicist and astronomer (born 14 Apr 1629)
	"As crude a weapon as a cave man's club, the chemical barrage has been hurled against the fabric of life." - American marine biologist, conservationist and writer (died 14 Apr 1964)

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
	Christiaan Huygens, born 14 Apr 1629 was a mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, who founded the wave theory of light, discovered the true shape of the rings of Saturn, drew the first maps of Mars and patented the first pendulum clock. What was this scientist's nationality?
Deaths
	Rachel Louise Carson (1907-1964) was an American biologist well known for her writings on environmental pollution and the natural history of the sea. She warned the public about the long term effects of misusing pesticides. What is the title of her famous book of 1962?
Events
	On 14 Apr of a certain year, the first practical commercial black-and-white video recorder was demonstrated at a broadcast convention. The VT-100 by Ampex Corporation of Redwood City was the size of a deep-freeze cabinet, and used 14 inch reels of 2" wide magnetic tape to make a one-hour recording. In what decade was this first video reel recorder demonstrated?
	On 14 Apr 1611, at a banquet held in honour of Galileo, a new name for one of his instruments was announced by Prince Federico Cesi (image left), suggested by one of the guests there. Which instrument was so named?

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 14 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 13: RAdio Detection And Ranging; the decade including the year 1803; Thomas Jefferson; deafness (after an attack of scarlet fever); George Westinghouse.

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