Category Archives: History of science

The gallery of failed atomic models, 1903-1913

Posted on May 27, 2008 by skullsinthestars

It is often said that history is “written by the victors”. While this statement is usually referring to the winners of a military or political conflict, a similar effect occurs in the history of science. Physics textbooks, for instance, often … Continue reading →

Posted in History of science, Physics | 41 Comments

Classic Science Paper: Otto Wiener’s experiment (1890)

Posted on May 4, 2008 by skullsinthestars

Update: In my haste to finish this “monster” post, I neglected to include an introduction to standing waves, an explanation which is crucial to understanding the experiment.  That oversight has been corrected. A couple of weeks ago I issued a … Continue reading →

Posted in History of science, Optics, Physics | 19 Comments