Today is National Science day. Started because in 1928 on this day, Scientist C.V. Raman made public (and later won the Nobel Prize), Raman Scattering (or Raman Effect) with photons. Before that (in 1922) he published a work on Rayleigh Scattering of light. We may know this a little more clearly as a Prismatic Spectrum, or more specifically, the cover of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”. To think that the number one selling album of the 1970’s, and the number four selling album of all times, can owe some of its success to science. “Money, It’s a gas…”
My first Science book is “Science Stories Book Three, Basic Studies in Science”, 1936. This is a beautiful school book dealing with natural science. For the time written, great pictures, photos, and stories. It is authored by same folks that produced the Dick and Jane books. In fact one story is ‘How the Quail fooled Dick.” The quail saw Dick and pretended its wing was broke, and slowly lead Dick away from the Quail’s nest of babies. (Note to self, I am starting to sweat a little-jonesing as I write that I have book three, and not one and two.)
Also have the book “Fireside Science, a series of Popular Scientific Essays upon Subjects connected with Every-day Life”, by James R. Nickols, published 1872. I really enjoy this book because as the author states “these essays have been made as brief as possible,..to make attractive to busy men and women of our time…along definite points or topics.” He wanted to make his science stories easily read, and understood during fireside get togethers with family. These were to help entertain, long before TV or Radio, or certainly any electronic devices. A very enjoyable evening type read, and before it was done, he got into some rather interesting and detailed science.
The next book is a much more modern science book. “365 Science Projects and Activities” by Phyllis J. Perry, 1999. As a self proclaimed “Super Grandpa”, I ensure that I have hands-on projects for my five granddaughters. There are enough things to do every day for a solid year! My son and daughter know me to be an enthusiastic sitter. There are great descriptions of things to do, each with “What You’ll Learn”, “What You’ll Need” and sometimes “What happened”. I’ll do anything to keep them away from brain sucking electronics.
A few years back, my granddaughter and I conducted a very serious experiment with gummy worms. It was suggested that if left soaking in water, gummy worms will double, even quadruple in size.
To prove the theory, she used a beaker with household tap water, and I used a more detailed base consisting of vodka and vermouth. After soaking for several hours, we both had great results, with the added benefits of creating a Gumm-tini. My gummy worm happened to be speared with a toothpick to keep it submersed. I discovered Happy Hour Osmosis Absorption. How about a little extra credit for my research:
The only thing I remember in chemistry class was that alcohol is a solution.
What is formula for Ice? H2O cubed.
What do you do when no one laughs at your science jokes? Keep trying till you get a reaction.
Had a book on anti-gravity. It was hard to put down.
What is the hardest type of book to get through? Friction Books.
Smile…and keep reading.
Librarytomes 