Science History

Astrological Bloodletting- Medieval Physicians Used Star Alignments For Phlebotomy Insight

Medieval doctors had to acquire a range of skills including an ability to read Latin texts, a working knowledge of the bodily “humours” and an understanding of the rudiments of blood circulation. Their diagnostic techniques were largely limited to examini ...

Article - The Conversation - Dec 10 2019 - 6:30am

For Roman Emperors, Surviving The First Year Was Hardest

As a new Roman emperor, your risk of death was high, but it declined as time went on, according to a new analysis. And over 70 rulers, the progression was predictable.  Historical records show that of 69 rulers of the unified Roman Empire, 43 (62 percent) ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 30 2019 - 11:55am

The Pharaoh, The Suburb, And Mathematics.

Not long ago, I was watching a documentary The Pharaoh in the Suburb on Channel 5 (UK terrestrial television) which told us that The discovery of a gigantic statue in a suburb of Cairo shed light on an almost forgotten period of Egyptian history, and the a ...

Article - Robert H Olley - Jan 5 2020 - 10:39pm

A Speculation On The Evolution Of Science

“Terror is the normal state of any oral society, for in it everything affects everything all the time.” – Marshall McLuhan* The famous media scholar’s statement about preliterate societies seems to apply also to our society today, in which the word “terror ...

Article - Fred Phillips - Jan 24 2020 - 5:42pm

The Mystery Of Edgar Allan Poe's Death Gets Some New Insight

On October 3 1849, the famed American horror and mystery author Edgar Allan Poe was found in a complete state of delirium – incoherent, dishevelled and wearing a stranger’s clothes. Four days later, he died in a hospital. His final words were “ Lord, help ...

Article - The Conversation - Feb 26 2020 - 7:30am

Earth Day Should Refuse To Change Its April 22nd Date, Eh Comrade?

Disney and Warner Bros. are losing a small fortune pushing back the dates of "Black Widow" and "Wonder Woman 1984" respectively. Yet they did it. Despite paying interest on $500 million in debt, they believe it will be better to change ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Apr 22 2020 - 11:40am

Rosalind Franklin’s Numerical Data Went Farther Than One Double Helix Picture

By Catherine Meyers, Inside Science   (Inside Science)-- If you’ve heard the name Rosalind Franklin, you’ve probably also heard the names James Watson and Francis Crick. Watson and Crick form the famous duo most widely credited with figuring out the spiral ...

Article - Inside Science - Jul 28 2020 - 10:19am

Will Somebody Please Find Me A One-Handed Scientist??

If I had to pick one consistent complaint from the public about scientists it's that people feel like those who should know the most about a topic are often the least able to give people a straight answer. Instead of providing the answer they know to ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Aug 11 2020 - 10:49am

The Medieval Roots Of Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is an emergent technology that may be as transformative as the internet, according to many predictions. But this innovative new technology has a surprising link to the days of medieval treasuries. Blockchain is a distributed ledger that uses cr ...

Article - The Conversation - Dec 2 2020 - 4:46pm

Forget Mrs. Claus, What About Santa Herself?

Can Christmas be about gender? Apparently so, if the paucity of female Santas is anything to go by. There have, in fact, been cases of Australian women donning the secular red and white Santa attire as far back as 1930 — and there is no reason why we coul ...

Article - The Conversation - Dec 18 2020 - 5:01am