Newsletter for Tuesday 19 January.

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TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY

NEWSLETTER • 19 JANUARY

Feature for Today

On 19 Jan 1904, George Francis Train died, an American businessman who was a pioneer in street horse tramways in England, was involved in the formation of the Union-Pacific Railroad, and known as an eccentric reformer. In 1860 he published a booklet, which was his attempt to publicize his idea to bring to London the benefits of tramways with horse-drawn carriages. You can read some of the opening pages of his 56-page booklet, Observations on Horse Railways, to see more of his vision.

Book of the Day

On 19 Jan 1944, M. Lee Goff was born, American forensic entomologist. Today's book pick is: A Fly for the Prosecution: How Insect Evidence Helps Solve Crimes, by M. Lee Goff, who is a scientist at the forefront of the new profession of forensic entomology. Equal parts scientific and true-crime journalism, the book reports unflinchingly on the development of this field as an important adjunct to traditional means of investigation. Based on a constantly improving knowledge of the reproduction and growth of carrion flies and beetles, an informed examiner can determine the time and location of death with great precision, often lending the final evidence needed to close a case. From Harvard University Press.

It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $2.99. Used from $2.83. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)

Quotations for Today

	I had an immense advantage over many others dealing with the problem inasmuch as I had no fixed ideas derived from long-established practice to control and bias my mind, and did not suffer from the general belief that whatever is, is right. — Sir Henry Bessemer, English industrialist, metallurgist, inventor and engineer (born 19 Jan 1813).
	I had gone on a walk on a fine Sabbath afternoon. I had entered the Green [of Glasgow] by the gate at the foot of Charlotte Street—had passed the old washing-house. I was thinking upon the engine at the time, and had gone as far as the herd's house, when the idea came into my mind that as steam was an elastic body it would rush into a vacuum, and if a communication were made between the cylinder and an exhausted vessel it would rush into it, and might be there condensed without cooling the cylinder. I then saw that I must get rid of the condensed steam and injection water if I used a jet, as in Newcomen's engine. Two ways of doing this occurred to me. First, the water might be run off by a descending pipe, if an outlet could be got at the depth of 35 or 36 feet, and any air might be extracted by a small pump. The second was to make the pump large enough to extract both water and air. ... I had not walked further than the Golf-house when the whole thing was arranged in my mind. [In Robert Hart's words, a recollection of the description of Watt's moment of inspiration, in May 1765, for improving Thomas Newcomen's steam engine.] — James Watt, Scottish engineer and inventor (born 19 Jan 1736).
	The leading idea which is present in all our [geological] researches, and which accompanies every fresh observation, the sound of which to the ear of the student of Nature seems echoed from every part of her works, is—Time!—Time!—Time! — George Julius Poulett Scrope, English geologist (died 19 Jan 1876).

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
	Sir Henry Bessemer, born 19 Jan 1813, was an English inventor and engineer who developed the first process for manufacturing a certain important product inexpensively (1856), leading to the development of the Bessemer converter. What was this product?
	On 19 Jan 1736, James Watt was born, the Scottish instrument maker who invented the form of the steam engine which contributed substantially to the Industrial Revolution. Watt teamed up with which manufacturer to achieve great commercial success.
Deaths
	Carl Graebe (1841-1927) was an organic chemist who, assisted by Carl Liebermann, synthesized (1868) the orange-red dye alizarin, which in the textile industry quickly replaced the dye made from a natural source, the madder plant root. Upon this, one of the early dyestuff products, arose rapidly a great chemical industry. In what country did Graebe initiate this chemical dye industry?
	Daniel Coxe (1640-1780) was an early experimenter on the effects on animals of a certain chemical compound, which he reported to the Royal Society on 3 May 1665. Coxe said with tobacco-oil distilled in a retort, by one drop of which given at the mouth he had killed a lusty cat. When the dead animal was opened, it smelled strongly of the oil, and the blood of the heart more strongly than the rest. What was this compound known to be poisonous at least as early as 1665?
Events
	On 19 Jan of a certain year, a U.S. patent was issued to George Claude of Paris for a neon tube advertising sign. In which decade was this patent issued?
	On 19 Jan 1915, the English towns of Yarmouth and King's Lynn first suffered German bombing raids. By what method did the Germans deliver the bombs on these towns?

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 January 19 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for January 18: Ray Dolby • barbed wire • it measures the acuity of a person's eyesight compared to a standard observer with good normal acuity. 20/20 means he can resolve 2 target features at 20 feet. • lace • decade including the year 1936 • his landing gear was provided with hooks adapted to catch ropes secured by sandbags stretched across the landing platform..

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