Presents the first of a series of occasional articles about mathematics as seen through the eyes of its prominent scholars. In an interview with Gian-Carlos Rota of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology he discusses how combinatorial mathematics began as a field and its future. (HM)

Written in response to an earlier article questioning certain aspects of evolution theory. Discusses ontogeny and phylogeny, the basis of evolution, chance or purpose in evolution, micro and macro-evolution, reversibility, and the evolution processes today. (MA)

Advances new explanations for false observations made during 1903-1906 concerning a spurious radiation called N rays. (MLH)

Discusses the first known preparation of oxygen by Cornelis Drebbel, and the escape by Neils Bohr to England upon Nazi occupation of Denmark. (MLH)

In a brief Bicentennial retrospect author attempts to make a modest recreation of the years 1776 and 1876 and to summarize the last century's events in science and technology, with emphasis on chemistry, not only in the U.S., but also abroad. (Author/RK)

Introduces the Golden Age of Hungarian science and highlights the educational achievements of Hungarians. Traces the contributions of Hungarian scientists to the progress of science. (JRH)

Traces the evolution of physics research methods in Finland from passive observations to planned experiments. Presents examples of planned experiments designed to solve particular problems with the goal of establishing a theory of the phenomenon under study. Contains 16 references. (JRH)

Presents examples of how the history of domestic physics might help in seeking new ideas that are unavoidable for the transformations taking place in Slovakia. Discusses refining domestic physics history, the influence of totalitarian systems on science in Slovakia, what is meant by "Slovak science," the role of Czech universities and…

Presents a brief life history of Carl Linnaeus, a professor of medicine and botany in Uppsala, Sweden. Highlights his work in developing a classification system for plants and animals, and his botanical lectures and demonstrations. (JRH)

Describes differing concepts of nature held by systematists from 1789-1859, connections between these concepts, and how they saw relationships among groups and made classifications. Discusses what these systematists intended their classifications to represent and how these intentions relate to classifications used by twentieth-century biologists.…

Describes methods used by scientists to investigate the past. Explains the scientific model existing in textbooks and methods for studying evolutionary history. (Contains 30 references.) (YDS)

Presents the results of an extensive quantitative content analysis of Gould's 22 books, 101 book reviews, 479 scientific papers, and 300 Natural History essays, in terms of subject matter, and thematic dichotomies. Emphasizes the interaction between the subjects and themata, how Gould has used the history of science to reinforce his evolutionary…

Presents a brief life history of Maria Goeppert Mayer who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for her work in atomic physics. (JRH)

Presents the Ramsen demonstration, a chemical demonstration that involves the reaction between copper and concentrated nitric acid. Outlines Ira Ramsen's description of the experiment, a modified version of it, the interpretation, and applications. (JRH)

Examines issues related to specialization in science in the context of the work of Alexander Von Humboldt, one of the first popular scientists in the 19th century and Charles Darwin's mentor. Chronicles the impacts of a science dominated by specialization and argues for increased emphasis on interdisciplinary environmental study. (LZ)