science newsletter: Newsletter for Saturday 21 April

Newsletter - April 21 - Today in Science History

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER - 21 APRIL

Feature for Today

On 21 Apr 1830, James Starley was born, a British inventor and manufacturer known in his time as the father of the bicycle.

Though his name may now seem lost in the mists of time, his development of the bicycle as it is known today includes the tangent-tension spoke wheel that he origininated in 1876.

In this article from the Wheel World magazine of 1881, the article on The Late Mr. James Starley recalls how his mechanical genius showed itself with varied inventions early in his life, and that it later extended not only the designs for bicycle, tricyle and quadricycle, but also a major interest in sewing machine manufacutring.

Book of the Day

On 21 Apr 1838, John Muir was born, the doyen of nature travel writings, whose descriptions of the high Sierra Sierra, the redwood forests and his trek through Florida to the Gulf of Mexico reveal a deep love of the magnificence of nature. Read any of his works, and the effect is the same: through his insight, you want to BE THERE yourself! Today's Science Store pick is John Muir: The Eight Wilderness Discovery Books, by John Muir, a compilation of eight of his most significant books of mountaineering and conservation literature. Among these pages you will be overcome by the awe and humility upon viewing towering Sequoia trees, feel the humidity of a Florida swamp and be engaged by the curiosity of a Douglas squirrel. As you read, you will be caught up in the wonder that all are still REAL today. New $~~40.00~~, Save 34% Price $26.40. Also available Used from $17.91 (as of time of writing).

Booklist for John Muir.

Yesterday's pick: Listening in the Dark: The Acoustic Orientation of Bats and Men, by Donald R. Griffin.

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

Quotations for Today
	"By far the most important consequence of the conceptual revolution brought about in physics by relativity and quantum theory lies not in such details as that meter sticks shorten when they move or that simultaneous position and momentum have no meaning, but in the insight that we had not been using our minds properly and that it is important to find out how to do so." - Percy Williams Bridgman, American experimental physicist (born 21 Apr 1961)
	"Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed,—chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much towards getting back anything like the noble primeval forests. During a man's life only saplings can be grown, in the place of the old trees—tens of centuries old—that have been destroyed." - John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist (born 21 Apr 1838)
	"The cell, this elementary keystone of living nature, is far from being a peculiar chemical giant molecule or even a living protein and as such is not likely to fall prey to the field of an advanced chemistry. The cell is itself an organism, constituted of many small units of life." - Oskar Hertwig, German embryologist and cytologist (born 21 Apr 1849)

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
	John Muir, born 21 Apr 1838 was a Scottish-American naturalist, farmer, explorer, writer and conservationist, who championed the establishment of national parks in California. He travelled widely, and wrote extensively, publishing 300 articles and 10 major books expounding his love of nature. *Can you name the two national parks he promoted for California?*
Deaths
	Samuel Slater (1768-1835) was an English-American mechanical engineer who founded in America the industry in which he was apprenticed in England. *What industry did Slater establish in America?*
Events
	On 21 Apr 1962, the first revolving restaurant in the U.S., was opened by remote control by President John F. Kennedy from Palm Beach, Florida. Where was this restaurant?
	On 21 Apr 1878, a New York City firehouse installed something, which was the first time it happened in the U.S. What was installed in the firehouse on this day?

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 21 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 20: Stonehenge; typical striations left in rock by glaciers extended for many miles beyond the limits of existing glaciers; sugar-beet; the decade including the year 1964; (e) 8 tons; Pasteurization.

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