This Day in Science History

[Remter]

[keep up the history forum QUOTE]February 24 People Edward Williams Morley c. 1887, Died 24 Feb 1923 (born 29 Jan 1838) American chemist who is best known for his collaboration with the physicist A.A. Michelson in an attempt to measure the relative motion of the Earth through a hypothetical ether (1887). He also studied the variations of atmospheric oxygen content. He specialized in accurate quantitative measurements, such as those of the vapour tension of mercury, thermal expansion of gases, or the combining weights of hydrogen and oxygen. Morley assisted Michelson in the latter's persuit of measurements of the greatest possible accuracy to detect a difference in the speed of light through an omnipresent ether. Yet the ether could not be detected and the physicists had seriously to consider that the ether did not exist, even questioning much orthodox physical theory. Events Pulsar In 1968, Nature carried the announcement of the discovery of pulsars (pulsating radio sources). The first pulsar was discovered by a graduate student, Jocelyn Bell, on 28 Nov 1967, then working under the direction of Prof. A. Hewish. This extraterrestrial pulsating radio source was observed at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge University, England. They were using a special radio telescope, a large array of 2,048 aerials covering an area of 4.4 acres. The discovery of these fascinating objects opened new horizons in studies as diverse as quantum- degenerate fluids, relativistic gravity and interstellar magnetic fields. Under extraordinary physical conditions, radiation is generated and appears pulsed with a clock-like precision. <br />Posted by yevaud[/QUOTE]<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Remter </div>

 

[lildreamer]

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[xXTheOneRavenXx]

<p>I thought this would be a good one as no one has posted here for a while:</p><p>Jean-Baptiste Boussingault</p><p>Born 2 Feb 1802; died 12 May 1887. <br />French agricultural chemist who identified the biological nitrogen cycle. His first career was as a mining engineer. He wrote variously on such topics as mineralogy, volcanic gases, climate of the Andean region, and earthquakes (which he theorized were a violent elevation of the hardened crust, then subsidence and formation of caves). In 1821, Boussingault discovered that iodine-rich salts could be used to treat goiter, though he did not understand its preventive role. From 1836, he pursued agricultural chemistry. He determined that plants could not assimilate nitrogen directly from the air, but instead from nitrates in the soil. He investigated plant respiration, the function of their leaves, and the value and effect of manures.&laquo; </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>