TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 2 AUGUST
On 2 Aug 1788, Leopold Gmelin was born, a German chemist, who published Gmelin's Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie (Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry), later expanded to organic chemistry, in which he extensively covered the known facts of chemistry. In his lifetime he produced over a dozen volumes. The first was released in 1817.
This was such a valuable resource, even after his death it continued to be updated. Also, the full work was published in an English translation.
See this obituary for background on this remarkable chemist, Leopold Gmelin.
On 2 Aug 1820, John Tyndall was born, the British physicist who demonstrated why the sky is blue. But worked in a broad field of scientific interests which embraced heat, light, sound, glaciers and much more. Today's book pick is: A Vision of Modern Science: John Tyndall and the Role of the Scientist in Victorian Culture (Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology), by U. DeYoung Tyndall’s contributions to the conduct of science in his era were so significant that it is a pity he is now so little recognized for his influence. His campaign to free science from the restraints of theology caused a national uproar, and in his popular books and lectures he promoted scientific education for all classes. In his efforts to create an authoritative role for scientists in society, he played a pivotal role in Victorian history.
It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $72.11. Used from $45.52. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | When a body acts upon another one, it is always immediately or through some intermediate body; this intermediate body is in general what one calls a machine. — Lazare-Nicolas-Marguerite Carnot, French mathematician and military engineer (died 2 Aug 1823).  |
 | Every occurrence in Nature is preceded by other occurrences which are its causes, and succeeded by others which are its effects. The human mind is not satisfied with observing and studying any natural occurrence alone, but takes pleasure in connecting every natural fact with what has gone before it, and with what is to come after it. — John Tyndall, Irish physicist (born 2 Aug 1820). |
 | “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…” Whatever our speculations may be in regard to a “beginning,” and when it was, it is written in the rocks that, like the animals and plants upon its surface, the earth itself grew. — Elisha Gray, American inventor (born 2 Aug 1835). |
| 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 2 Aug 1835, Elisha Gray, an American inventor who would have been well-known for his invention if another person had not got to the patent office before him earlier that same day to file on a similar device. A famous legal battle still did not gain priority for Elisha Gray. So it is another man’s name that is associated with the invention that was was destined to be in most people’s houses. Can you name the invention? |
| | John Tyndall, born on 2 Aug 1820, was an Irish physicist who became known to the scientific world in 1848 as the author of a substantial work on Crystals. He studied the acoustic properties of the atmosphere and the blue colour of the sky. What explanation did he give for the blue color of the sky? |
| Deaths | |
 | Louis Blériot (1872-1936) was a French aviator who was the first person to fly across a certain body of water on 25 Jul 1909, winning a £1,000 prize offered by the owner of the Daily Mail newspaper. Over which body of water did he make his prize-winning flight? |
 | A Scottish inventor (1847-1922) had a career which was influenced by his grandfather (who published The Practical Elocutionist and Stammering and Other Impediments of Speech), his father (whose interest was the mechanics and methods of vocal communication) and his mother (who was deaf). This background set his course in developing the transmission of voice over wires. Can you name this man? |
| Events | |
 | On 2 Aug 1870, Tower Subway, the first tube railway in the world, was opened under the River Thames in London, England. Engineer James Henry Greathead used a tunnelling shield he modified from Barlow's design to bore the 6-ft diameter tunnel near the Tower of London. A 12-seat carriage shuttled from end to end. It was not successful due to low use and frequent breakdowns, and the railway closed within three month. How was the carriage powered? |
 | On 2 Aug 1938, a new product, Dr. West’s Miracle-Tuft toothbrush, was described in a New York Times business report. The Weco Products Company, was the first to use a new material for the bristles, for which they promised “No bristle shedding, 100 per cent waterproofed, longer life, greater cleansing power.” Competition came in May 1939, as Johnson & Johnson began advertising their new Tek toothbrush. What was the older bristle material that this new toothbrush replaced, and what was the new bristle material? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for August 1: isotopic tracer techniques • Joseph Stalin • Joseph Montgolfier • Hitler, offended by a Nobel Peace Prize to another person in a Nazi concentration camp, required all Germans to decline any Nobel award. • Oscar Hammerstein and Oscar Hammerstein II • metre • Oak Ridge, Tennessee • Jeep.
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