TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 27 JANUARY
On 27 Jan 1940, David Murray Cowie died, an American pediatrician who promoted the iodization of table salt sold in the U.S. to provide a dietary supplement of iodine, thus reducing the widespread incidence of goitre (major swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck). As a professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan gathered support from the Michigan State Medical Society and pursuaded several table salt producers to add 0.01% sodium iodide to their product. On 1 May 1924, the first iodized salt was on Michigan grocers' shelves. An article on Goitre Prevention from Minnesota Medicine (1922) (1922) indicates that the medical community regarded this as an important step in public health. And that is why the salt on your supermarket shelf says “Iodized,” even if you had no idea of the reason why, its importance and its history.
On 27 Jan 1861, Ralph Modjeski was born, Polish-American bridge designer and builder who was outstanding for the number, variety, and innovative character of his projects. Today's book pick is: A man who spanned two eras: The story of bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski, by Jozef Glomb, who gives this nearly forgotten engineer some well deserved, posthumous recognition The bulk of Modjeski's projects are permanent fixtures on American interstates and railroads. His design work includes bridges that stretched further and supported more than any preceding structure. The methods he introduced into modern bridge building paved the way for greater and safer bridges around the world. Modjeski also broke world records in cantilever and suspension bridge spans. One example of his work is the 9,570 foot Benjamin Franklin Bridge (1926) which crosses the Delaware River, now over 75 years old and in continuous use.
It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $98.82. Used from $6.00. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | “Of course they answer to their names?” the Gnat remarked carelessly. “I never knew them to do it,” [said Alice.] “What’s the use of them having names,” said the Gnat, “if they won’t answer to them?” “No use to them,” said Alice; “but it’s useful to the people that name them, I suppose.” — Lewis Carroll, English mathematician, logician, novelist and photographer (born 27 Jan 1832).  |
 | A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children. [Misattributed?] — John James Audubon, French-American ornithologist, artist and naturalist (died 27 Jan 1851). |
 | It troubles me that we are so easily pressured by purveyors of technology into permitting so-called “progress” to alter our lives without attempting to control it—as if technology were an irrepressible force of nature to which we must meekly submit. — Hyman G. Rickover, Polish-American naval officer (born 27 Jan 1900). |
| 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 27 Jan 1900, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover was born. He served on active duty with the United States Navy for more than 63 years. Rickover is known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” for under his leadership, an atomic-powered submarine was built (1954). What was this first nuclear submarine named? |
| | An Oxford mathematician was born on 27 Jan 1832, who is remembered as a novelist who wrote two popular children's stories under the pen name Lewis Carroll. What is this mathematician's real name? |
| Deaths | |
 | Edward H. White (1930-1967) was an American astronaut who in 1967 was one of the first casualties of the U.S. space program, killed during a flight simulation. Previously, he had made an orbital flight in Gemini 4, launched on 3 Jun 1965, and made an important “first” in the history of U.S. space flight. What was White's historic “first” as a U.S. astronaut? |
| | John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an artist, and naturalist known for his drawings and paintings. In 1820, he made his goal the publication of an anthology of life drawings. He travelled the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the Great Lakes. Audubon is remembered for which type of wild life in his drawings? |
| Events | |
 | On 27 Jan of a certain year, John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, gave the first public demonstration of a true television system in London, launching a revolution in communication and entertainment. In which decade did Baird make this demonstration? |
 | On 27 Jan 1950, Science magazine announced the new antibiotic terramycin. It was found effective against pneumonia, dysentery, and other infections. Terramycin was developed from 20 million tests for bacteria-fighting organisms found in 135,000 samples collected worldwide. In what material was these bacteria-fighting organisms found? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for January 26: symbiosis • from the initial of Keys's name • smallpox • Nature • Wilhelm Eduard Weber • decade including the year 1932 • Isaac Newton.
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