Outlines the history of Antarctic exploration from the Greek philosophers of 500 BC to the adoption of the minerals regime in 1988. (CW)

Describes scientific thought as a type of goal-directed behavior and its product and discusses its nature in terms of that goal and means appropriate for achieving it. Discusses the Galilean-Newtonian paradigm, empiricism, the idea that scientific thought has philosophical foundations, and the scientific status of human sciences. (Author/JRH)

Discusses the efforts of the Lewis and Clark expedition to conduct what amounted to the first national biological survey. A sidebar examines current U.S. Department of Interior plans to create the National Biological Survey to record every species of plant and animal in the country. (LZ)

Argues that not every disappearing technology deserves that fate and presents 10 technologies that have an elegance and simplicity the winners lack such as the electric trolley, pneumatic post, Amiga, ribbon microphone, WordStar, Edison's wax cylinder, slide rule, reel mover, automatic watch, and airship. (Author/ASK)

Suggests that the motivation for Hungarian scientist Lorand Eotvos' research into gravitation was a desire to popularize university education and science. (MM)

A study of the development of commercial electron spectroscopy of chemical analysis (ESCA) instrumentation over a span of three decades is presented. The field has also been extended significantly by use of synchrotron radiation as a bright X-ray source, which has opened new areas of research in solid-state physics, molecular biology, and many…

A synopsis on the history of perfumery is presented, along with the various processes accessible for obtaining natural perfume constituents, and creation of synthetic chemicals. The important contribution of organic chemists in the invention of perfumes, aspects of fragrance chemistry, and general information on the perfume industry are…

A question and answer session on whether Lavoisier made an agreement with the French mathematician, Comte Joseph-Louis Lagrange shortly before being beheaded that he would blink his eyes if he retained consciousness after being beheaded and that he was executed because of his revolutionary scientific views is described. The circumstances…

The conception of ion chromatography and its development into a technique ready for commercialization is described. The pioneering development pointed the way to make ion exclusion an important member of the repertoire of IC methods.

We address issues related to gender and cultural equity in a history of mathematics course. We first look at the preponderance of male European mathematicians represented in textbooks of mathematics and history or mathematics. Then we discuss ways to highlight the presence of female and non-European mathematicians in the history of mathematics.…

This highly readable text demystifies the qualitative research process--and helps readers conceptualize their own studies--by organizing the different research paradigms and traditions into coherent clusters. Real-world examples and firsthand perspectives illustrate the research process; instructive exercises and activities build on each other so…

In the Rede lecture of 1959, C.P.Snow speaks in terms of two cultures, one of science, the other of literary intellectuals. Snow's discussion presupposes that science represents a culture of its own, independent of and superior to the arts and humanities, and unified within itself. At our present distance from this claim, Snow's point of view can…

Presents a bibliography of general sources of information on the history of science education in Great Britain. Describes by topic some of the research published in recent years by historians of science and education. Topics include examinations, the laboratory, textbooks, teaching methods, medicine and pharmacy, women's education, and others. (…

Discusses the development of physical organic chemistry: (1) before 1920; (2) from 1920 to 1930; (3) from 1930 to 1940; and (4) after 1940. Major accomplishments in these periods are noted. (JN)

This document highlights key moments in the history of science chosen for their national impact and for the insight they provide on the values and principles that guide the inner workings of the National Science Board (NSB) in its governance of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its role in national policy. This brochure takes a walk…