TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 21 APRIL
On 21 Apr 1830, James Starley was born, a British inventor and manufacturer known in his time as the father of the bicycle.
Though his name may now seem lost in the mists of time, his development of the bicycle as it is known today includes the tangent-tension spoke wheel that he originated in 1876.
In this article from the Wheel World magazine of 1881, the article on The Late Mr. James Starley recalls how his mechanical genius showed itself with varied inventions early in his life, and that it later extended not only to the designs for bicycle, tricycle and quadricycle, but also a major interest in sewing machine manufacturing.
On 21 Apr 1838, John Muir was born, the doyen of nature travel writings, whose descriptions of the high Sierra Sierra, the redwood forests and his trek through Florida to the Gulf of Mexico reveal a deep love of the magnificence of nature. Read any of his works, and the effect is the same: through his insight, you want to BE THERE yourself! Today's book pick is: John Muir: The Eight Wilderness Discovery Books, by John Muir, a compilation of eight of his most significant books of mountaineering and conservation literature. Among these pages you will be overcome by the awe and humility upon viewing towering Sequoia trees, feel the humidity of a Florida swamp and be engaged by the curiosity of a Douglas squirrel. As you read, you will be caught up in the wonder that all are still REAL today.
It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $40.00. Used from $9.37. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | By far the most important consequence of the conceptual revolution brought about in physics by relativity and quantum theory lies not in such details as that meter sticks shorten when they move or that simultaneous position and momentum have no meaning, but in the insight that we had not been using our minds properly and that it is important to find out how to do so. — Percy W. Bridgman, American experimental physicist (born 21 Apr 1882).  |
 | The cell, this elementary keystone of living nature, is far from being a peculiar chemical giant molecule or even a living protein and as such is not likely to fall prey to the field of an advanced chemistry. The cell is itself an organism, constituted of many small units of life. — Oskar Hertwig, German embryologist and cytologist (born 21 Apr 1849). |
 | Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed,—chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much towards getting back anything like the noble primeval forests. During a man’s life only saplings can be grown, in the place of the old trees—tens of centuries old—that have been destroyed. — John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist, farmer, explorer, writer and conservationist (born 21 Apr 1838). |
| 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 | |
| | John Muir, born 21 Apr 1838 was a Scottish-American naturalist, farmer, explorer, writer and conservationist, who championed the establishment of national parks in California. He traveled widely, and wrote extensively, publishing 300 articles and 10 major books expounding his love of nature. Which two National Parks did he promote for California? |
 | Arthur William Galston was an American biologist, plant physiologist and bioethicist who studied herbicides. Others extended his work to manufacture a chemical defoliant used by the American military during the war in Vietnam. Killing the tree canopy leaves exposed Viet Cong positions when viewed from the air. Galston’s warnings of the chemical’s high toxicity to animal and human life had been ignored, as well as its potential to cause birth defects. Galston lobbied with other scientists against its use. Eventually Pres. Nixon ordered a halt to the extensive spraying of the chemical. What name was given to this chemical defoliant? |
| Deaths | |
 | Samuel Slater (1768-1835) was an English-American mechanical engineer who founded in America the industry in which he was apprenticed in England What industry did Slater establish in America? |
| Events | |
 | On 21 Apr 1962, the first revolving restaurant in the U.S., was opened by remote control by President John F. Kennedy from Palm Beach, Florida. Where was this restaurant? |
 | On 21 Apr 1878, a New York City firehouse installed something, which was the first time it happened in the U.S. What was installed in the firehouse on this day? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for April 20: Stonehenge • many miles beyond the limits of existing glaciers, there were striations left in rock that were typical for glaciers • sugar-beet • (e) 8 tons • the decade including the year 1964 • pasteurization.
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