TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 18 JULY
On 18 Jul 1720, Gilbert White was born, the English clergyman and naturalist whose much-loved book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne, has been continuously in print since it was published in 1789. He has been called the first ecologist for his extensive, detailed observations of his region's flora and fauna, made over a period of 20 years, and collected in this book. For more about this fascinating gentleman, read this article on Gilbert White.
On 18 Jul 1635, Robert Hooke was born, the English physicist who remains very well-known for his law of elasticity, Hooke's Law. Yet he did so much more. Hooke was a virtuoso scientist whose scope of research ranged widely, including physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, geology, architecture and naval technology. On 5 Nov 1662, Hooke was appointed the Curator of Experiments at the Royal Society, London. After the Great Fire of London (1666), he served as Chief Surveyor and helped rebuild the city. He invented the balance spring for clocks, and also invented or improved meteorological instruments such as the barometer, anemometer, and hygrometer. Hooke authored the influential Micrographia (1665). History has been unkind to Hooke—so brilliant, yet largely forgotten. Today's book pick is: , by who shows us a man of great energy, great diversity, great precision, artistry and his cantankerous personality. This biography of Hooke deserves your attention, as it provides insight on how much he contributed to the growth of science in his era.
It is available from Amazon, typically about (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | Each paradigm will be shown to satisfy more or less the criteria that it dictates for itself and to fall short of a few of those dictated by its opponent. — Thomas S. Kuhn, American science historian and science philosopher (born 18 Jul 1922).  |
| | The footsteps of Nature are to be trac'd, not only in her ordinary course, but when she seems to be put to her shifts, to make many doublings and turnings, and to use some kind of art in endeavouring to avoid our discovery. — Robert Hooke, English physicist (born 18 Jul 1635). |
| | Earthworms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm … worms seem to be the great promoters of vegetation, which would proceed but lamely without them. [Showing an early awareness in ecology.] — Gilbert White, English clergyman and naturalist (born 18 Jul 1720). |
| 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 18 Jul 1720, an English cleric and pioneering naturalist was born in Selborne, Hampshire, known as the “father of English natural history.” In 1789, he published The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne. The book has been in print continuously since then. It is the first work on natural history to attain the status of an English classic. The text consists of a series of observations, each recorded with a date, covering a 20-year period. The text comes from neither a diary, nor a field book, so why is each of his “monographies” dated? |
| | On 18 Jul 1635, Robert Hooke was born, who discovered the law of elasticity, now known by his name. He was a virtuoso scientist who did research in a remarkable variety of fields. For example, he invented the balance spring for clocks, but also served as Chief Surveyor and helped rebuild London after the Great Fire of 1666. Yet he remains largely unknown today, perhaps because a more famous, but jealous, scientist with whom he quarreled, deliberately worked to overshadow him. Can you name the famous scientist with whom Hooke quarreled? |
| Deaths | |
 | Eugene Shoemaker (1928-1997) was an American planetary geologist, who initiated and vigorously promoted the intensive geologic training of the astronauts that made them able scientific observers and reporters on moon landings. He co-discovered Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 which collided with Jupiter (1994). He died in a car crash. He was remembered after his death by a remarkable tribute. What was remarkable about this tribute? |
| Events | |
 | On 18 Jul 1994, Rosanna Della Corte, an Italian woman, gave birth to a healthy son, Riccardo. Her egg was artificially imseminated by her husband’s sperm, by Dr. Severino Antinori at his fertility clinic in Rome, Italy. At what remarkable age did she give birth? |
 | On 18 Jul 1627, French explorers noticed oil seeping out of the ground. The phenomenon was described by the Franciscan Missionary Joseph DeLa Roch D’Allion, which was the first recorded mention of oil on the North American Continent. The Seneca Oil Spring is located near the spillway end of Cuba Lake on the Oil Spring Indian Reservation. In which State was this oil seepage found? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for July 17: light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation • three-point lap and shoulder seat belt • Henri Poincaré • Tanganyika (now Tanzania, East Africa) • Chicago River, Chicago • Humber Bridge.
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