March 2026: Science History From 50, 100 And 150 Years Ago

March 2026: Science history from 50, 100 and 150 years ago

A Greenland mystery; booming dunes

By Jeanna Bryner

1876, The Owl Parrot: "This singular bird, sometimes called nan nighttime parrot, belongs to New Zealand. It has nan shape of a parrot but bears a facial facet resembling that of an owl. But it is not a vertebrate of prey, arsenic it eats maize and nuts readily erstwhile successful captivity. The specimens herewith illustrated are domiciled successful nan unrivaled postulation successful nan gardens of nan Royal Zoological Society successful London, England."

Scientific American, Vol. 34, No. 12; March 1876

1976

Catastrophe Theory

“Any entity aliases conception tin beryllium represented arsenic a form, a topological surface, and result immoderate process tin beryllium regarded arsenic a modulation from 1 shape to another. If nan modulation is soft and continuous, location are well-established mathematical methods for describing it. In nature, however, nan improvement of forms usually involves abrupt changes and perplexing divergences, aliases transformations. Because these transformations correspond abrupt disruptions of different continuous processes, René Thom of nan Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques successful France termed them simple catastrophes.

On supporting subject journalism

If you're enjoying this article, see supporting our award-winning publicity by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to guarantee nan early of impactful stories astir nan discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Such catastrophe mentation has been peculiarly absorbing successful its applications to nan biologic and societal sciences. Thom suggests applications successful embryology, arsenic good arsenic successful nan mentation of evolution, successful reproduction, successful nan process of thought and successful nan procreation of speech. For nan surviving compartment and for nan organism, life is 1 catastrophe aft another.”

Booming Dunes

“A soil dune would not look to beryllium a very apt campaigner arsenic a earthy sound generator. But dunes successful galore parts of nan world squeak, roar aliases boom. Acoustic sands person been described successful godforsaken fable but person received small technological attention. Recently scientists person conducted nan first quantitative study of nan properties of an acoustic dune called Sand Mountain adjacent Fallon, Nev. After trying respective different methods, they recovered that nan soil boomed loudest erstwhile a trench was quickly dug successful it pinch a flat-bladed shovel. The sound was for illustration a short, debased statement connected a cello; it lasted for little than 2 seconds and was readily audible astatine a region of 30 meters. The booming could besides beryllium produced by pulling nan soil downhill pinch nan hand; successful that case, beardown vibrations reminiscent of a mild electrical daze could beryllium felt successful nan fingertips.”

1926

Greenland’s Norse Mystery

“The excavations carried retired by Dr. Poul Nørlund of nan National Museum, Copenhagen, astatine Herjolfsnes, nan Old Norse colony of Osterbygd, successful Southern Greenland, propulsion ray upon nan mysterious destiny of nan early Norse settlers. In nan ancient churchyard astatine Herjolfsnes, immoderate 200 valuable relics were found, including coffins, skeletons of nan aged Vikings successful their shrouds, well-preserved garments, implements, tools, ornaments and Christian crosses.

The style and trim of galore of nan costumes show that nan Norsemen were successful connection pinch Europe up to then; however, grounds shows astir that clip a fatal alteration of ambiance occurred successful these bluish latitudes. Whereas Herjolfsnes had been free of crystal each done nan summer, it abruptly became blocked virtually each done nan year. Being trim disconnected from Europe and being called upon to look a difficult climate, nan colonists gradually deteriorated successful physique. This is evidenced by an introspection of nan skeletons. Against nan Eskimos, truthful brilliantly adapted to nan arctic conditions, nan physically weakened Norsemen could not clasp out, and their punishment was sealed by nan encroaching Greenland ice.”

The Carolina Wren

“The early naturalists successful America were woefully twisted successful nan matter of names. Not only were absurd appellations utilized successful imitation of Old World names—such arsenic robin, partridge and pheasant—but besides position to propose restricted habitats. Thus, for wide distributed species, we person specified titles arsenic Maryland yellow-throat, Louisiana heron and Carolina wren. The Carolinas person nary much correct to beryllium honored pinch nan sanction of this small songster than person immoderate different states successful its range. If I were to prime a favourite bird, 1 of genuinely heroic mold and 1 that is worthy of nan top admiration for its abilities arsenic a musician, architect, artisan, its happy, optimistic disposition and its home virtues, I would take nan Carolina wren.”

1876

Another Obnoxious Postal Law

“An obnoxious postal rule was passed during nan closing hours of nan past legislature session, nan effect of which was to double nan postage connected transient newspapers, magazines and periodicals, books, and merchandise. A caller measure stipulates nan following: For distances up to 300 miles, 1 cent for each 2 ounces; for distances betwixt 300 and 800 miles, 2 cents; betwixt 800 and 1,500 miles, 3 cents, and truthful forth.

The projected measurement will bring chaos connected postal affairs. It presupposes a geographical knowledge passim nan full population, which ne'er could exist. Not only must a man cognize nan region of each station agency from his residence, but nan region of each station agency from each different station office, other he could not stamp his packages correctly. Congress should not walk this bill.”