Robert Hooke and MicroscopyAbstract Robert Hooke was an extraordinarily industrious man who played an important part in how we understand nature toda

Abstract
Robert Hooke was an extraordinarily industrious man who played an important part in how we understand nature today. Hooke’s influential scientific research deems him a virtuoso of his time. Unfortunately, he is disregarded in most history books. His achievements were in the field of microscopy, specifically, developing the first compound microscope, and being the first to recognize cells. Hooke’s inventions allowed him to reveal the unknown universe of microscopic organisms, paving way for a new level of nature, that was never known before. A member of the Royal Society for over 40 years, Hooke was at the heart of the scientific revolution.

For more info - http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/hooke.html

For a picture of Robert Hooke's Ccompound microscope - http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Gifs/hookscop.html

No Guts, No Glory!

Dissection is more than just cutting open a body and looking inside it. It is almost like an adventure in medical research. Andreas Vesalius was the first who revolutionized the idea of opening the body and trying to make sense of how it worked. In Europe during sixteenth and seventeenth century this concept was just being introduced and not an easy one to grasp. Dissection can be a hard subject to conduct to but it’s a subject it can lead to amazing things and discoveries. By using someone's dead body, it can lead to the extension of their life in a long term. Who wouldn't want to have the comfort of knowing that health care will provide more for person’s living, and be able to fix certain things inside the body that were not possible before due to the lack of medical knowledge. Throughout this presentation we will show the wonders of what can be found with dissection and what can be done with the knowledge of medicine. This amazing discoveries lead to medical advancement.

http://www.historyworld.net/default.asp

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/history_of_medicine.htm

Pressures, Volumes, and Vacuums! Oh My!

Do you think that the relationship between volume and pressure when referring to gases at a constant temperature in a vacuum is awesome? If so, then we have the perfect paper for you. Our paper is about one the most famous British scientists to this day, Robert Boyle. You have most likely heard of Boyle’s law that says that PV = k with k being a constant. Robert Boyle discovered the relationship between the pressure and volume of gases in 1662 while performing some experiments that he and his lab assistant, Robert Hooke, conducted. This law of nature is important because it is observed in every day life and can be applied to many of our daily encounters. This is only a brief look at what is in our written presentation. You will have to read the entire thing to get all the details. For more information about Robert Boyle check out this informative website and here is a clip explaining the specifics of Boyle’s Law.

If you want to read our full written presentation then you can click here.

Get-Out-Of-Poverty-Free Card

Poor? Starving? Struggling to survive? Turn any lesser metal into gold!

This was only one of several outlandish claims that alchemists made in the 16th and 17th centuries, during a time of desperation when such suggestions earned them fame and fortune. Alchemists of this period claimed to possess the ability to not only turn lesser metals to gold, but also produce the philosopher’s stone, a mythical crystal whose properties included curing every known ailment, bestowing spiritual enlightenment, and granting eternal life.

The idea is hardly a difficult one to market. For our presentation we plan to sell the irresistible trappings of life and eternal wealth to the historical audience, and use to basic principles of the philosophy of alchemy to explain how such a substance could exist. To a crowd in abject destitution, the relevance was clear; little was more alluring than a get-out-of- poverty card.

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For links to hundreds of primary-source texts on alchemy, click.

For a quick definition of alchemy and its history, click.

Midterm Abstract

This presentation will cover the works of William Gilbert. Gilbert was a scientist during the scientific revolution, and is particularly well know for his work regarding magnetism. His most famous work, De Magnete, was published during the time in order to debunk many myths about magnetism-and more specifically, the compass.
Because the compass was integral to sea travel during the time, Gilbert’s work was particularly revolutionary. Previously, there was great confusion as to what effected or controlled the needle of the compass. The myths that surrounded the instrument made sea travel dangerous, as there was little to no understanding of the ship’s most valuable tool. Gilbert was able to illuminate the workings of the compass, and therefore make sea travel safer.
In order to fully explain both Gilbert’s works, as well as their importance, we will illuminate all relevant factors. This will include an overview of Gilbert’s ideas and the processes he utilized in order to complete his studies. We will also define the historical and cultural context in which Gilbert’s work took place, and explore the nature of the people which populated the era. These factors will help readers gain a greater understanding of not only Gilbert’s work, but the importance of it.

If you're not particularly familiar with magnetism, here's a quick video to catch you up!

Sperm, the Beginnings

Ever wonder who discovered sperm?  Well, a man named Antoni van Leeuwenhoek did in the 17^th century.  He developed powerful variations of the microscope and began delving into the micro-world.  He found a vast new land of microorganisms that surround us.  His peculiar interest in ant reproduction led him to ideas of how reproduction occurs in humans.  His discovery challenged the common belief of creationism.  People were taken aback by the radical ideas Leeuwenhoek brought to intellectual circles. 

               For our presentation we plan to demonstrate the existence of microbiology.  By showing our audience a skin sample under a microscope, they will hopefully believe in the existence of microbiology.  This direct approach of proving our idea to the public is the best method of convincing them of Leeuwenhoek’s ideas.  We will distribute hand drawn pictures of sperm to give the audience an idea of what sperm looks like under the microscope in an abstracted way.  

            We are going to persuade our audience that microbiology is significant to understanding how the universe functions.  It gives humans a different perspective on the world that they couldn’t achieve on their own.  Having a clear idea of how human reproduction functions provides more awareness of biological cycles.  Microbiology may lead to explanations of how healing properties work which in turn leads to advances in medicine and health.      

Interested in learning more? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_eNmc_gHyE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBU6-XK2v54&feature=related

Welcome to the 2008 Class Blog for Core 210-05

Throughout this semester, our class studying Scientific Revolutions will create posts that elaborate upon course content and connect to other materials through links to outside sources such as articles and videos.

Your contribution will consist of a minimum of 5 posts, as outlined below, plus comments on other student postings as appropriate. (Of course, you are welcome and encouraged to blog more frequently if you wish!) Although it is a required course component, I hope you will approach this blog as an opportunity to show your unique perspective on the material we read and discuss, to be creative, and to personalize what we are doing in class in a way that interests and excites you.

REQUIRED POSTINGS:

1. Reading Connections #1: This posting must be made during course weeks 2-5. Create a blog post with links to articles, video, or other content of your choosing that extend concepts we are covering in class during these weeks. You must provide a clear explanation of how your link(s) connect to and expand upon class content, and you must specifically refer to and cite class texts when developing your explanations.
2. Reading Connections #2: This posting is just like the first, only it must be made during course weeks 6-8 and it must deal connect to course content covered during that same period.
3. Abstract: This posting must be done during course week 9. Together with your project partner, post your project abstract and provide a minimum of two links to follow for readers interested in learning more.
4. Darwin Revelation: This posting must be made during course weeks 13-15 (prior to final exam period). Identify a revelation you had after reading about and studying Darwin, and embed a YouTube video that represents the revelation. Your revelation must be clearly explained and supported through specific references to in-class readings, and the connection between your revelation and your chosen video must be thoroughly articulated. (You will also present and explain your revelation to the class during our Final Exam period.)
5. What’s New(s) in Science?: This posting must be completed within 1 week of your in-class What's New(s) Presentation. Create a blog posting that mirrors your in-class presentation, including links to outside content and explanations of their relevance.
   

Have fun, and remember, you are literally writing for the whole world to read!