Comments on: ScienceOnline ’09: Web and the History of Science http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/ The intersection of physics, optics, history and pulp fiction Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:44:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Brian http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2982 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:40:21 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2982 No problem about the delay. My greatest complaint is that life gets in the way of writing sometimes. ;)

]]> By: skullsinthestars http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2981 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:13:21 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2981 Brian (via Secret of Newton): Thanks for the comment! By the way, I’ll try and respond to your earlier comments here (and on TGS) in the near future; things have been crazy over the past month and I’ve been very spotty with my commenting!

]]> By: Brian http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2979 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:16:26 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2979 “Chain reaction effect” is right! About six years ago I started thinking about some of the radical changes in science around the turn of the century (1800s crossing into 1900s). That got me interested in Cambridge and the Cavendish Lab. That sparked my curiosity about Newton, the man and his legacy at Cambridge. Now six years later I’ve finished a novel about Newton and Cambridge. From writing the novel I wanted to explore other areas of science, history and faith. That led to my blog. The blog has led to great discussions and other avenues of science history yet unexplored. I look back at the progression and my head spins a bit. I’m glad I’ve found “Skulls in the Stars” and look forward to following your site. Who knows where it will lead???

Cheers.

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2978 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:00:31 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2978 Yes, I picked up the term “textbook cardboard” from Brian (hi, Brian!). Though I’d given some thought to the problem before that, it’s nice to have a convenient word or two for it. Feynman’s phrase, “a physicist’s history of physics”, is a tad fatalistic — it almost makes it sound like it’s a problem we’ll never lick! Maybe that’s true, but I’d hate to prejudge the case. (-:

]]> By: skullsinthestars http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2975 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:50:01 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2975 Laelaps: Thanks for the comment! To respond to your points:

1. Really? From the thoughtfulness and coherence of your writing, I had you pegged as an especially articulate graduate student! :)

2. I tried to be careful to say that I first heard the term from Blake, though I had known its origins went back farther. It’s nice to have it mapped out explicitly. (Some historian I’m turning out to be — I can’t even trace a phrase back twenty years!)

3. I had a great time as well! We’ll have to keep pushing the historical side of science, and see where we can take it.

]]> By: Laelaps http://skullsinthestars.com/2009/01/27/scienceonline-09-web-and-the-history-of-science/#comment-2974 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:10:36 +0000 http://skullsinthestars.com/?p=1460#comment-2974 Nice summary, gg. I have been meaning to write one of my own. Just a few quick notes;

1 – I’m actually still an undergrad. I wish I was a grad student, though!

2 – Blake can correct me if I’m wrong, but to trace the meme all the way through I think he picked up the phrase “textbook cardboard” from me (http://www.google.com/cse?cx=017254414699180528062%3Auyrcvn__yd0&q=textbook+cardboard+site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Flaelaps%2F&sa=Search), and I picked up it from S.J. Gould’s “Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle.” (Whig History is another name for the same thing.) Not that it matters, but it’s good to see one of my favorite phrases making the rounds. :)

3 – Thanks for setting up the presentation and all. I had a lot of fun at the session and I hope that interest in the history of science continues to grow!

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