Newsletter for Wednesday 9 June.

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TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY

NEWSLETTER • 9 JUNE

Feature for Today

On 9 Jun 1768, Samuel Slater was born, an English-American mechanical engineer who established an important American industry.

The chapter “Samuel Slater” in Lives of American Merchants (1856) is more an example of nineteenth century writers’ airy persiflage, instead of a comprehensive biography. It is perhaps an amusing read to see how many words are spent without adding much to the substance—the way a student might pad out a term paper with a skimpy amount of fact-gathering to declare!

Nevertheless, some biographical content is therein to be enjoyed, though it is spread thinly among excessive verbage.

Book of the Day

On 9 Jun 1781, George Stephenson was born, the English engineer who was principal inventor of the railroad locomotive. Today's book pick is: The Life of George Stephenson, by Samuel Smiles, whose book is the seminal biography of George Stephenson. The author presents an amazing description of the development of railroads, both mechanical developments and lines, especially in Great Britain and her colonies.

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

Quotations for Today

	I'm not a wizard or a Frankenstein tampering with Nature. We are not creating life. We have merely done what many people try to do in all kinds of medicine—to help nature. We found nature could not put an egg and sperm together, so we did it. We do not see anything immoral in doing that in the interests of the mother. I cannot see anything immoral in trying to help the patient’s problem. — Patrick Steptoe, British scientist and medical researcher (born 9 Jun 1913).
	The rage for railroads is so great that many will be laid in parts where they will not pay. — George Stephenson, English engineer and inventor (born 9 Jun 1781).
	You too can win Nobel Prizes. Study diligently. Respect DNA. Don't smoke. Don't drink. Avoid women and politics. That's my formula. — George Beadle, American geneticist (died 9 Jun 1989).

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
	George Stephenson, born 9 Jun 1781 was an English engineer and principal inventor of the practical railroad locomotive. Can you name his most famous locomotive?
	Samuel Slater, born 9 Jun 1768, was an English-American mechanical engineer who founded an important American industry. Before immigrating to the U.S. in 1789, Slater apprenticed with Jedediah Strutt (partner of Richard Arkwright) in England. Once in the U.S., he found backing to build Arkwright’s machinery, with which he established the first successful factory of its kind in the U.S., as well as many others in the New England region. What industry did he begin in the U.S.?
Deaths
	Daniel Mazia (1912-1996) was an American cell biologist who was notable for his work in nuclear and cellular physiology—studying the structure, division, and regulation of cells—especially for having isolated the cellular structures involved in mitosis. What is the process known as mitosis?
	Adolf Windaus (1876-1959) was a German organic chemist, who was awarded the 1928 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. His research was on substances that play important biological roles, notably a particular vitamin. In 1926, he proved that ultraviolet light (from sunlight or UV lamp) activates the compound ergosterol, and gives a vitamin which is valuable in preventing the rickets bone disease Which vitamin is this?
Events
	On 9 Jun 1905, Albert Einstein published his analysis of of another scientist’s quantum theory and its application to light. Einstein’s article appeared in Annalen der Physik. Though no experimental work was involved, it was for these insights that Einstein earned his Nobel Prize. Einstein wrote his analysis on the work of which scientist?
	On 9 Jun 1953, a U.S. patent for “manufacture of soft surface cured cheese” was granted. The invention related in general to the manufacture of soft, surface cured, mold ripened cheeses, such as for example, Camembert, Brie, and the like—and in particular, to the provision of a soft, surface cured cheese whose mold pad may be readily removed. Who was the inventor, whose name is famous for cheese?

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 June 9 web page of Today in Science History. Or, try this link first for just the brief answers.

Fast answers for the previous newsletter for June 8: The decade including the year 1962 • Eddystone lighthouse • Crystal Palace • safety pin • the decade including the year 1940 • rotting corpse.

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