Scientific American Celebrates 180 Years with Tales of Scientific U-turns
In honor of SciAm’s A hundred and eightieth birthday, we’re spotlighting the most important “wait, what?” moments in science historical past.
Drawings of Mars exhibiting its ‘canals’ and polar ice caps in drawings created from observations made on the Lowell Observatory in 1907.
Photograph by Ann Ronan Footage/Print Collector/Getty Pictures
Rachel Feltman: Joyful Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Rapidly, I’m Rachel Feltman.
At present we’re doing one thing slightly completely different from our regular weekly information roundup. Scientific American turns 180 this yr, and we just lately celebrated with a set of print options about instances in historical past when science has seemingly carried out a whole pivot—a 180-degree flip, if you’ll. We thought it might be enjoyable to take you on a tour of some highlights from that package deal.
First up, now we have a narrative from freelance well being and life sciences journalist Diana Kwon about nerve regeneration. For millennia docs and scientists believed that any harm to the nerve cells that carry alerts all through the physique have to be irreversible. Whereas many cases of nerve harm are, certainly, tough to deal with, scientists have realized over the previous couple of centuries that nerves can and do regenerate.
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All through this evolution in our understanding of nerves it was nonetheless extensively believed that neurons throughout the central nervous system, composed of the mind and spinal twine,have been incapable of therapeutic. Now we all know that even these most valuable neurons can regenerate underneath the precise circumstances.
As analysis continues into precisely which mechanisms encourage (or block) neural regeneration all through the physique, scientists are additionally engaged in one other debate: whether or not human brains are able to producing new neurons all through maturity. The phenomenon of grownup neurogenesis would have been unfathomable mere a long time in the past, however a rising physique of proof now helps it. Simply think about what secrets and techniques we’ll have uncovered concerning the nervous system 180 years from now.
In one other instance of a scientific turnabout, Scientific American senior options editor Jen Schwartz reminds readers that plastic was, satirically, invented as a sustainable various to a different materials: ivory. The truth is, again in 1864 Scientific American revealed information of a contest from billiard-table manufacturing firm Phelan & Collender searching for another for vanishing elephant tusks, which, on the time, have been used to make pool balls. The corporate supplied $10,000 as a reward for this feat of supplies science.
A printer from Albany, New York, named John Wesley Hyatt got here up with celluloid in response, although he selected to patent the invention for himself reasonably than accepting the prize cash. His celluloid billiard ball has been known as “the founding object of the plastics trade.” Sadly, as Jen’s article for SciAm explains, whereas the demand for ivory within the billiard trade dropped with the introduction of celluloid, elephants have been nonetheless focused for his or her tusks for different merchandise. And as we now know the invention of plastic radically modified the best way we produce and devour items—and never at all times for the higher.
In one other scientific 180, detailed by Scientific American contributing editor Sarah Scoles, we find out how the seek for alien life has periodically been turned on its head. (So perhaps a number of 180s?)
Within the late nineteenth century an Italian astronomer noticed groovelike markings on Mars, which satisfied an American astronomer that the Pink Planet hosted a complete civilization. In 1906 that second astronomer, Percival Lowell, wrote a e book positing that Martians had carved out a classy community of watery canals. Even when a more in-depth have a look at Mars in 1909 revealed that these canal-like markings had truly been an optical phantasm, Lowell’s theories endured. In 1916 a Scientific American managing editor wrote in New York Instances letters to the editor that he nonetheless believed Mars held refined life and an irrigation system to show it. In fact, when the Mariner 4 spacecraft gave us our first flyby view of Mars in 1965, we noticed our planetary neighbor for the desolate world it’s.
Whereas we’re unlikely to do one other 180 on the existence of clever life in our photo voltaic system anytime quickly, scientists have just lately develop into conscious of the ample potential alternatives for microbial life in our cosmic yard and past. We is probably not peering up at Mars hoping to see aliens touring round by gondola anymore, however in some methods the hunt for alien life is extra optimistic than ever.
These are only a few of the 180-degree pivots you possibly can study within the newest challenge of Scientific American. Take a look at our A hundred and eightieth-anniversary challenge on newsstands, or go to ScientificAmerican.com for extra fascinating tales of scientific swerves. We’ll have further anniversary treats popping up on-line within the subsequent few weeks, too, so keep tuned.
If you wish to assist us have fun our birthday, be a part of our #SciAmInTheWild photograph problem by September 5. Simply snap a pic of any Scientific American print challenge in a setting that displays or enhances the duvet theme. Then share it on social media utilizing #SciAmInTheWild. Be certain that to tag Scientific American, and embrace your identify and placement. Or should you choose to remain off social media, e-mail your photograph to contests@sciam.com. You could possibly win a one-year Limitless subscription, plus a bundle of superior devices and equipment. Phrases and circumstances apply. You will discover the official guidelines at SciAm.com/180contest.
That’s all for in the present day’s episode. We’ll be again on Wednesday to discover one of the intriguing mysteries of the deep sea: the phenomenon generally known as “darkish oxygen.” And on Friday, we’re reflecting on one other main historic milestone: the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Our regular science information roundup will probably be again subsequent week.
Science Rapidly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, together with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our present. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for extra up-to-date and in-depth science information.
For Scientific American, that is Rachel Feltman. Have an important week!
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