TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 2 NOVEMBER
Thomas Midgley Jr. (1889-1944) was an American engineer and chemist who discovered the effectiveness of tetraethyl lead (C2H5)4Pb in 1921 as an antiknock additive for gasoline (petrol). At the time it seemed like a wonderful invention, to run engines more smoothly with less damage. Years later, the hazard of lead released into the atmosphere was realized, and the sale od leaded gasoline ended. He also developed carbon tetrafluoride as a cleaning agent, and the chlorofluorocarbon compound later called “Freon” for refrigeration. These too have been shown to have hazards, including damaging the Earth's ozone layer. To read about the enthusiasm surrounding these compounds when first introduced, read the 1940s radio talk by Charles Kettering praising his colleague, Thomas Midgley. Even if his pet projects later were reversed with greater understanding of their chemical effects, Midgley's dedication as a researcher remains interesting reading.
On 2 Nov 1944, Thomas Midgley died, whose contributions to the chemistry of his era included leaded gasoline and freon. These, his two most infamous inventions, are now known to produce immense environmental damage. Freon replaced toxic refrigerants, but is now a banned CFC because it destroys atmospheric ozone. The tetra ethyl lead additive was a boon to prevent damaging "pinging" in car and airplane engines, but contains distributes lead, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in plantlife and the body. Yet he deserves to be remembered for his hard work, creative genius, and a passion for research. Today's book pick is: From the Periodic Table to Production: The Life of Thomas Midgley, Jr., the Inventor of Ethyl Gasoline and Freon Refrigerants, by Thomas Midgley, his grandson, who provides more than a biography. A large portion of this book provides much useful material, including patents, awards, texts of Midgley's speeches given on various occasions, and examples of his poems.
It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $23.25. Used from $20.71. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | The most satisfactory definition of man from the scientific point of view is probably Man the Tool-maker. — Kenneth Oakley, English physical anthropologist, geologist and paleontologist (died 2 Nov 1981).  |
 | If a problem is clearly stated, it has no further interest to the physicist. — Peter Debye, Dutch-American physical chemist (died 2 Nov 1966). |
 | The beauty of physics lies in the extent which seemingly complex and unrelated phenomena can be explained and correlated through a high level of abstraction by a set of laws which are amazing in their simplicity. — Melvin Schwartz, American physicist and entrepreneur (born 2 Nov 1932). |
| 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 | |
 | An English mathematician, born 2 Nov 1815, helped establish modern symbolic logic. Now named after him, his algebra of logic, is basic to the design of digital computer circuits. Can you name this man? |
| Deaths | |
| | Kenneth Oakley (1911-1981) was an English physical anthropologist, geologist, and paleontologist best known for his work in the relative dating of fossils by fluorine content. While working for the British Natural History Museum, Oakley become famous in 1953 for exposing a forgery. A skull had been “unearthed” in 1912, in England, and had for decades been said to represent the “missing link” in human evolution. He proved it was nothing more than a modern human braincase and an orangutan jawbone. By what name is the forged "missing link" human ancestor known? |
| Events | |
 | On 2 Nov of a certain year, the DuPont company, of Wilmington, Delaware, announced the first synthetic rubber this day. It was known as DuPrene. In what decade was this product announced? |
 | On 2 Nov 1947, Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden airplane on its only flight, which lasted about a minute over Long Beach Harbor in California. It was the first test of a U.S. plane with eight engines. Wing span was 319 feet, 11 inches. Can you name this airplane? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for November 1: Steady-State theory of the universe • Pangea • Pampers disposable diapers • Marianas Trench in the western Pacific Ocean • decade containing the year 1952 • Goodyear.
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