- This Day in Science History - July 30 - Vladimir Zworykin
July 30th is Vladimir Zworykin's birthday. Zworykin was a Russian born, American engineer who was a major contributor to the early development of television. He designed a method of transmitting pictures with sound electronically using a cathode ray tube called a kinescope. He also designed a camera system based on the same technology he called the Iconoscope. Much of the basic technology used in today's 'tube' television sets is based on Zworykin's work.
Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.This Day in Science History - July 30 - Vladimir Zworykin originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 00:05:07.
- Detergent and Water for Flea Control
If you live in an area with fleas, you know how quickly they can get out of control. In addition to the host of products on the market for flea control, there are some safe and natural flea treatments you can try. One of these is to set a dish of water under a nightlight. Stir a few drops of detergent into the water to lower the surface tension of the water so that the fleas that are attracted to the light will land in the water and drown. This is a much less expensive (and sticky) method of trapping fleas than using glue traps, yet it is effective.Do you have any natural flea treatments that work for you? If so, post a response! Better living through chemistry...
Natural Mosquito Repellents | My War Against Fire Ants
Detergent and Water for Flea Control originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 15:50:32.
- Make Your Own Hurricane Storm Glass
Sure, you can look at the National Hurricane Center to see if a tropical storm or hurricane is headed your way, but wouldn't you rather use chemistry to predict whether the storm will strike? Ok, maybe a storm glass isn't particularly reliable, but it's still a fun application of chemistry. Learn about solubility, precipitation, and phases of matter.
Make a Hurricane Glass | Cloud Seeding HurricanesMake Your Own Hurricane Storm Glass originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 10:12:09.
- This Day in Science History - July 29 - Happy Birthday NASA
July 29th is NASA's birthday. In October of 1957, the Soviet Union greatly injured the pride of the United States by launching their first satellite, Sputnik into orbit. The United States had not given much priority to launching rockets into space. Much of their rocketry research was done by the military to develop ballistic missiles. Sputnik changed all that. Public opinion believed the Soviet Union was already technologically ahead of the U.S. and "something" had to be done. The "something" started when President Eisenhower signed an act to create the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. NASA would start operations on October 1, 1958 with 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $100 million. The Space Race was on.
NASA launched their first satellite in January 1958. In the next twenty years, they put men in space, landed men on the Moon, sent robotic probes to other planets and out of our solar system, created networks of satellites, built the Skylab space station and created a fleet of reusable Space Shuttles.
Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.This Day in Science History - July 29 - Happy Birthday NASA originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 00:05:02.
- This Day in Science History - July 28 - Charles Townes
July 28th is Charles Townes birthday. Townes was the American physicist who created the first working maser. A maser is a device that was the precursor to the laser that amplifies microwave radiation instead of light. Townes worked on a system that used ammonia molecules in a cylindrical cage with metal rods. The rods would be alternately charged to produce an electric field that would excite the electrons in the ammonia and separate excited ions from unexcited ions. The excited ions left the end of the resonator through a small hole. The resulting radiation was of very low power, on the order of a microwatt, but the wavelength was constant.
Masers operate using a different method now, but the principle is the same. They are used to amplify microwaves, radar, and even in radio astronomy to detect very weak signals over a great distance. Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.
Follow About.com Chemistry on Facebook or Twitter.This Day in Science History - July 28 - Charles Townes originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 00:05:25.
- A new wrinkle in evolution
Man-made proteins. - Novel sugar-to-hydrogen technology promises transportation fuel independence
Researchers propose using polysaccharides, or sugary carbohydrates, from biomass to directly produce low-cost hydrogen for the new hydrogen economy. - Einstein researchers' discover 'radiation-eating' fungi
Finding could trigger recalculation of Earth's energy balance and help feed astronauts. - New biofuel from trees developed at UGA
Still-unnamed fuel can be blended with biodiesel, petroleum diesel; has potential to boost economy. - Engineered protein effective against Staphylococcus aureus toxin
A research team has developed a treatment for exposure to enterotoxin B, a noxious substance produced by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium.
