Newsletter for Monday 21 October

TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY NEWSLETTER - 21 OCTOBER

Feature for Today

On 21 Oct 1852, John Fowler was issued a patent, believed to be the first for steam-powered cultivation of land, which in this application was to mechanise land drainage. In 1857, Fowler won a prize of £200 offered by the Highland and Agricultural Society “for the practical application of steam or water-power to the ploughing or digging of land.” On 1 Oct 1857, he demonstrated his equipment over a period of several days and showed how it could plough tough clay soil that would challenge traditional horse ploughing methods. In the opinion of the judges, Fowler's steam-powered method was also cost-effective. You can read the conclusion in the Report by Judges on Fowler's Steam Engine published in The Farmer's Magazine (Feb 1858). You can also read a brief obituary, here.

Book of the Day

On 21 Oct 1833, Alfred Nobel was born, the Swedish chemist and inventor who invented dynamite and other, more powerful explosives. Nobel amassed a huge fortune, much of which he left in a fund to endow the annual prizes that bear his name. Today's Science Store pick is: Alfred Nobel: A Biography, by Kenne Fant who uses Nobel's unpublished letters to offer a compelling account of this introverted, sickly, moody, yet ultimately humane man. At first, he believed that the creation of weapons of mass annihilation would make wars impossible forever. Eventually, unease at his inventions awakened his pacifism. It is said his idea to create the Nobel Prize was prompted by reading a bitingly critical obituary published erroneously while he was still living. It is available New from $12.11. Used from $0.01. (As of time of writing.). For picks from earlier newsletters, see the Today in Science History Science Store home page.

Quotations for Today
	I am visible to Google. I link therefore I am. - William A. Mitchell, American inventor (born 21 Oct 1911).
	Politicians, real-estate agents, used-car salesmen, and advertising copy-writers are expected to stretch facts in self-serving directions, but scientists who falsify their results are regarded by their peers as committing an inexcusable crime. Yet the sad fact is that the history of science swarms with cases of outright fakery and instances of scientists who unconsciously distorted their work by seeing it through lenses of passionately held beliefs. - Martin Gardner, American science writer (born 21 Oct 1914).
	I furnished the body that was needed to sit in the defendant's chair. [Explaining his role in the Scopes Monkey Trial.] - John T. Scopes, American teacher and geologist (died 21 Oct 1970).

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
	On 21 Oct 1833, Alfred Nobel was born, a Swedish chemist who invented dynamite and gelignite, but is annually remembered worldwide as news broadcasts announce the winners of the Nobel Prizes that he originated. In which decade were the first Nobel prizes awarded?
	On 21 Oct 1914, Samuel W. Alderson was born, an American physicist and engineer. He invented the crash-test dummy used to test the safety of cars, parachutes and other devices. In the 1930s, when safety of cars during a crash was tested, what was used instead of the crash-test dummies before their invention?
Deaths
	James Henry Greathead (1844-1896) was a British civil engineer who improved equipment for a certain type of construction. It had been unwieldly in use in the original form invented by Marc Isambard Brunel. In its improved form, Greathouse successfully used it for construction projects in London. What was the invention of Brunel that was improved by Greathouse, and what was its purpose?
	John Scopes (1900-1970) is remembered for his role in the Scopes Monkey Trial that challenged the constitutionality of a state's law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in its schools. Which state passed the Butler Act banning the teaching of evolution?
Events
	In 2011, the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in S�vres, France proposed to redefine four of the SI base units (kg, A, K, mol) in terms of invariants of nature such as the Boltzmann constant (k). The proposal required final approval before implementation, and not before 2014. Three other invariants of nature were named for use in the redefinition of SI units. Can you name one of these constants?
	On 21 Oct 1879, Thomas A. Edison successfully demonstrated the first durable, commercially practical electric incandescent light bulb at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Earlier forms of electric lighting had been invented by others, but none was practical for home use. After 1� years of experimenting, Edison had finally found a suitable material for his lamp's filament�carbonized sewing thread. For how many hours did his first demonstration lightbulb burn (to the nearest 10 hours)?

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 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 October 20: neutron • originated quantum mechanics and the spinning electron theory • the decade containing the year 1906 • Peace.

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