April Science Newsletter

As you approach the end of the year, we wanted to encourage you to contact us for assistance in planning your orders for the next school year. It is important to plan ahead so that you can get the best value and best materials for your science instruction.

And don't forget to schedule your microscope service. Click here for full information. Servicing and repairing your microscopes is very economical. Your students will enjoy working with a good microscope.

We hope that you enjoy the information contained in this Science Newsletter. Share the interesting science facts with your students and encourage them to discover more about the world in which they live.

Featured Products

National DCS-214-RLED

The DCS-214-RLED features high-speed, full resolution imaging technology built into one of our most popular microscopes. Use it as a conventional microscope or share live images with your class using WiFi tablets, wireless laptops, and HD-ready LCD monitors/projectors through HDMI. More Info

Human Torso

This 12 part, 50cm sexless human torso is appropriate for use in any classroom. This torso shows the major body systems and many anatomical features are numbered, which can be identified using the accompanying key card. More Info

Ohaus Frontier Mini Centrifuge

Small but powerful mini centrifuge for simple and quick liquid separation. With an 8-place 1.5/2mL tube rotor as well as a 4 place PCR 8-strip tube rotor, Frontier™ 5306 can accommodate 0.2mL 8 strip tubes or 32 individual PCR tubes. With the included adapter, 0.2mL and 0.5mL tubes can also be accommodated in the 8-place tube rotor. This centrifuge provides quiet, safe, and easy operation for your everyday quick spin-down applications. AC Adapter (included) Brushless quiet motor, auto shut-off safety switches. More Info

General Science History
In 1871, the American Museum of Natural History opened to the public in New York City. With a series of exhibits, the Museum's collection Went on view for the first time in the Central Park Arsenal, the Museum's original home, on the eastern side of Central Park. The museum began from the efforts of Albert Smith Bickmore, one-time student of Harvard zoologist Louis Agassiz, who was successful in his proposal to create a natural history museum in Central Park, New York City, with the support of William E. Dodge, Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., Joseph Choate, and J. Pierpont Morgan. The Governor of New York, John Thompson Hoffman, signed a bill officially creating the American Museum of Natural History on 6 Apr 1869.

Biology

In 1878, Louis Pasteur lectured at the French Academy of Science in support of his germ theory of disease, in which he held that many diseases were caused by tiny organisms. Since he still met with opposition from some scientists, he called their contrary opinions "fatal to medical progress." Pasteur also described ways to prevent infection, and provided the skeptics with an experiment with which to prove the theory to themselves.

Chemistry

In 1955, the element 101, a new artificial element was announced. It was synthesized by bombardment of Es-253 with helium nuclei using the cyclotron at the Radiation Laboratory of the University of California by Albert Ghiorso, Bernard G. Harvey, G.R. Choppin and S.G. Thompson, research chemists, headed by the Nobel laureate Glenn T. Seaborg. Being radioactive, with a half-life of between a half hour to several hours, this transuranic element cannot exist in nature since it decays so rapidly into lighter elements. It was named mendelevium, named in honor of Dmitry Mendeleev, the Russian chemist who worked on the periodic classification of the elements.

Physics
In 1926, the term "wave mechanics" was coined by nuclear physicist Erwin Schrödinger in a letter he sent to Albert Einstein. The term was applied to the newly emerging branch of physics which interprets the behaviors of subatomic particles according to a mathematical description in terms of a wave motion.

Earth Science

In 1930, the first U.S. motion picture of the 1.5 minute totality of an eclipse of the sun was taken from an airplane flying about 18,000 feet over at Honey Lake, California. The flight was sponsored by the U.S. Naval Observatory, and carried out by Lt. Leslie E. Gehres amd Chief Photographer J.M.F. Haase of the U.S. Navy. An attempt made during an earlier eclipse had been made by the same photographer on 10 Sep 1923, but was unsuccessful due to cloudy conditions. A U.S. Navy dirigible was first used to make a motion film of an eclipse on 24 Jan 1925. The dirigible was about 4,500 feet above a point almost 19 miles east of Monauk Point, New York, which it filmed the 2-min 5-sec eclipse.

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The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it. - Bill Nye

Thank you for your support of Capital Microscope. Together we can bring the joy and excitement of science to students. They will then carry this knowledge into the future. Contact us when you need assistance in determining the best science materials for your classroom. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to work with you.

March Science Newsletter

It appears that Spring is here. We hope that you are enjoying the challenge of helping science come alive for your students. We also wanted to encourage you to contact us for assistance in finding the best science equipment to help in that endeavor.

And don’t forget to schedule your microscope service. Click here for full information. Servicing and repairing your microscopes is very economical. Your students enjoy working with a good microscope.

We hope that you enjoy the information contained in this Science Newsletter. Share the interesting science facts with your students and encourage them to discover more about the world in which they live.

Featured Products

National 210 Microscope

A new standard of precision optics, highly engineered mechanics and very rugged construction, all at a little more cost than a budget microscope. Objective turret (nosepiece) is in reverse position to permit easier changing and positioning of specimen slides. Preferred by teachers, the corded LED illumination system provides optimum image brightness, virtually no bulb heat and has a 50,000-hour rated bulb life. More Info

Ohaus PA84 Analytical Balance

The OHAUS Pioneer Series of analytical balances are designed for basic routine weighing in a variety of laboratory, industrial and education applications. With the right combination of performance and features, the OHAUS Pioneer offers uncomplicated performance for all your basic weighing needs. Pioneer’s draftshield is constructed of all glass panels and three sliding doors, which are easy to remove for cleaning or storage. The up-front level indicator allows the user to quickly make sure the balance is level prior to each use. More Info

WP 120 Spectrophotometer

The WP-120 Model Spectrophotometer is a great value for precise and accurate readings.This model features a 5nm Bandwidth design while high quality silicon photodiode detector and 1200nm lines/nm grating assures optimal performance. The large screen graphic LCD are easy to read and gives quick accurate readings in Absorbance, Transmittance, Factor, and Concentration. Each option can easily be selected with using the Mode button located on the control panel. More Info

General Science History

In 1813, Michael Faraday was appointed at the Royal Institution as Chemical Assistant to Humphry Davy, whom he succeeded as Professor of Chemistry in 1820. Since age 14, in 1805, while an apprentice bookbinder, Faraday had educated himself about science. In 1810, he joined the City Philosophical Society to attend lectures and discuss scientific matters. A turning point in his life happened in 1812. A client of the bookbindery gave him four tickets to hear Humphry Davy lecturing at the Royal Institution. Fascinated by the scientific topics, He took notes, which he took with him later to show Davy when he later asked for a position. Davy interviewed him, but there was no opening at the time. When a vacancy occurred in 1813, Davy recalled him and Faraday was hired.

Biology

In 1980, arguments were heard by the U.S. Supreme Court concerning whether a patent could be issued for a genetically-engineered bacterium in the case of Diamond vs. Chakrabarty. On 16 Jun 1980, in a landmark decision, the judges held five to four that the Patent Office should recognize “any” new and useful “manufacture” or “composition of matter,” and that the fact that micro-organisms are alive was without legal significance in the related patent law. Microbiologist, Ananda Chakrabarty had appealed the rejection of his 1972 patent application for a human-made, genetically engineered bacterium capable of breaking down crude oil, which no naturally occurring bacteria could do. The patent was eventually issued 31 Mar 1981.

Chemistry

In 1950, a new radioactive element, element 98, named “californium” was announced by scientists at the University of California at Berkeley. This is a synthetic chemical element of the actinide series in Group IIIb of the periodic table, isotope californium-245. The scientists Stanley G. Thompson, Kenneth Street, Jr., Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn T. Seaborg produced it by bombarding curium-242 (atomic number 96) with helium-ions in the 60-inch cyclotron. Since then, longer lived isotopes have been created, including californium-251 with an 800-year half-life, and microgram quantities of compounds such as the oxychloride CfOCl, the oxide Cf2O3, and the trichloride CfCl3. Also, californium-252, with a half-life of 2.65-years, has industrial and medical applications as a very intense point source of neutrons. Used as a neutron emitter and to analyze the sulfur content of petroleum and to measure the moisture content of soil.

Physics

In 1896, Henri Becquerel accidentally discovered radioactivity when he developed a photographic plate he left in a desk drawer with crystals of a uranium compound upon it. He found a fogged image of the uranium crystals resting on it, although the plate was wrapped in heavy black paper. He had left the objects together on 26 Feb, after postponing his intended experiment on phosphorescent emissions stimulated by the sun. Having being left in darkness, eventually he realized the crystals where not phosphorescing from sunlight. Instead he had found spontaneous and penetrating rays, independent of any input of energy. A glimpse of a new mystery of the atom had been revealed, investigated for years after by other scientists. He shared the 1903 Nobel Prize with Pierre and Marie Curie for their work on radioactivity.

Earth Science

In 1611, Johannes Fabricius, a Dutch astronomer, observed the rising sun through his telescope, and observed several dark spots on it. This was perhaps the first ever observation of sunspots. He called his father to investigate this new phenomenon with him. The brightness of the Sun’s center was very painful, and the two quickly switched to a projection method by means of a camera obscura. Johannes was the first to publish information on such observations. He did so in his Narratio de maculis in sole observatis et apparente earum cum sole conversione. (“Narration on Spots Observed on the Sun and their Apparent Rotation with the Sun”), the dedication of which was dated 13 Jun 1611.

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If science is to progress, what we need is the ability to experiment, honesty in reporting results – the results must be reported without somebody saying what they would like the results to have been – and finally – an important thing – the intelligence to interpret the results. – Richard P. Feynman

Thank you for your support of Capital Microscope. Together we can bring the joy and excitement of science to students. They will then carry this knowledge into the future. Contact us when you need assistance in determining the best science materials for your classroom. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to work with you.

February Science Newsletter

As you work through the cold February weather, we at Capital Microscope would like to help you find the perfect material to bring science alive for your students. You can contact us directly to get personal assistance in determining the best products for your science lab. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

And don't forget to schedule your microscope service. Click here for full information. Servicing and repairing your microscopes is very economical. Your students enjoy working with a good microscope.

We hope that you enjoy the information contained in this Science Newsletter. Share the interesting science facts with your students and encourage them to discover more about the world in which they live.

February Featured Products

National DCS-213-RLED

The DCS-213-RLED features high-speed, full resolution imaging technology built into one of our most popular microscopes. Use it as a conventional microscope or share live images with your class using WiFi tablets, wireless laptops, and HD-ready LCD monitors/projectors through HDMI. More Info.

Frog Dissection Model

Our frog dissection model is 3X life size and accurately demonstrates the morphology of a frog. The ventral dissection allows the internal organs to be removed for closer examination. A key card is included and identifies over 15 important structures. More Info.

Laser Optical Demonstrator

This optical geometric apparatus offers a compact, convenient and comprehensive set up with a metal dish template that has 360º rotation. 13 optical components are included such as a rectangular prism, a trapezoid prism, a right angle prism, a semicircular lens, a convex lens and a concave lens. Students can also examine light ray paths in liquids with a rectangular acrylic cell and two mirrors with combined concave and convex planes. A periscope model, a Galilean telescope model, a Kepler telescope model and an optical fiber unit are included. Includes instruction manual and two AAA batteries. More Info.

General Science History

In 1947, Edwin H. Land gave the first demonstration his invention of instant photography at a meeting of the Optical Society of America. On 28 Nov 1948, his Polaroid Land Camera first went on sale, at a Boston department store. The 40 series, model 95 roll film camera went on sale for $ 89.75. This first model was sold through 1953, and was the first commercially successful self- developing camera system. A sepia-coloured photograph took about one minute to produce. His first commercial success came in 1939 with his invention of Polaroid filters for lenses in products such as ski goggles, sunglasses and slip-on sunglasses for optical glasses.

Biology

In 1944, DNA was identified as the hereditary agent in a virus, published in a report by O.T. Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty. This crucial discovery in molecular genetics - that genetic information is carried in the nucleotide sequence of DNA - arose incidentally while studying pneumococcus to monitor the epidemic spread of pneumonia. Since 1928, when British physician Frederick Griffith had found that extracts of a pathogenic strain of that virus could transform a harmless strain into a pathogenic one, scientists had searched for the "transforming factor." The work by Avery, et al., now identified the transforming molecule as DNA, having ruled out, through extract digestions, RNA, protein, and polysaccharide capsular material.

Chemistry

In 1937, Dr. Wallace Carothers, a research chemist for DuPont, who invented nylon, received a patent for the synthetic fiber. The U.S. patent, No. 2,071,250, which was assigned to the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Inc. The patent covered synthetic linear condensation polymers capable of being drawn into strong pliable fibres, as well as the process for making them. One of the first consumer uses of this new wonder plastic was replacing hog bristles in tooth brushes. Du Pont began production of such bristle filament on 24 Feb 1938, at their Arlington, N.J. factory. Commercial production of yarn for nylon hosiery followed at their Seaford, Delaware factory on 15 Dec 1939.

Physics

Far from our galaxy, in the vast darkness of space, two massive black holes merged into a single, larger hole.

And now researchers say they have detected rumblings from that cataclysmic collision as ripples in the very fabric of space-time itself. The discovery comes a century after Albert Einstein first predicted such ripples should exist.

"It's a really big event," says Saul Teukolsky, a theoretical astrophysicist at Cornell University. "This is probably the most exciting episode of my professional career."

Einstein predicted the existence of such ripples, known officially as gravitational waves, in 1916, as part of his general theory of relativity. General relativity re-imagines the gravitational pull between heavy objects like Earth and the sun as a "warping" of space and time. When very heavy objects such as black holes are involved, the theory predicts that gravitational waves will emerge and ripple across the entire universe.

Earth Science

In 1948, Miranda, a famous moon of Uranus, was photographed for first time. It was discovered by Gerard Kuiper, the Dutch astronomer, who also found Neptune's moon Nereid (1949). Miranda is the smallest of the five 5 major satellites of Uranus, and has a diameter of 480 km. When Voyager 2 passed closely by Miranda in 1986, it showed it was one of the most interesting satellites in the solar system, with a complex geological history. The numerous pictures it took of the surface showed a vast and diverse array of fractures, faults, grooves and craters unlike anything ever seen before. The large (318 km diam.) circular region is named the Arden Corona. Miranda is named after a character in Shakespeare's "The Tempest." Arden is the name of a forest, in which his play "As You Like It." is set.

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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. - Anne Bradstreet

Thank you for your support of Capital Microscope. Together we can bring the joy and excitement of science to students. They will then carry this knowledge into the future. Contact us when you need assistance in determining the best science materials for your classroom. We look forward to working with you.

January Science Newsletter

Welcome to 2016. All of us here at Capital Microscope hope that the new year is going well for you and your students.

A lot of new products are shown on our new website at MicroscopesandMore. We also have great values on the standard equipment and supplies for your science classroom. After you explore our new website contact us if you have any questions.

This is also the time of year when it is time to start thinking about getting your microscopes cleaned and serviced. Check out the Microscope Service box on the right to get more information about our outstanding service.

I hope that you enjoy the information contained in this Science Newsletter. Share the interesting science facts with your students and encourage them to discover more about the world in which they live.

January Featured Products

Motic BA210H S2 Tablet Bundle

Motic brings your microscopes world to life by coupling its best selling microscopes with its Android-based WiFi tablets giving a new dimension in interconnectivity to students, educators, or any other microscope user. The WiFi enabled Moticam tablets allow you to stream live micro-images to any other WiFi enabled device making it easy to share any microscope experience with those connected to you. More Info.

Ohaus Pioneer Analytical Balance

Pioneer® Analytical The Economical Choice for Everyday Weighing! The OHAUS Pioneer Series of analytical balances are designed for basic routine weighing in a variety of laboratory, industrial and education applications. With the right combination of performance and features, the OHAUS Pioneer offers uncomplicated performance for all your basic weighing needs. Pioneer's draftshield is constructed of all glass panels and three sliding doors, which are easy to remove for cleaning or storage. The up-front level indicator is located right next to the display and allows the user to quickly make sure the balance is level prior to each use. Pioneer is designed with selectable environmental settings and three filter modes in order to ensure accurate operation in a variety of settings. More Info.

Oil Immersion Microscope

This  Walter 4008 Oil Immersion Microscope delivers quality results and uses bright white light for maximum resolution. An oil immersion microscope at a great price. It is excellent for educational applications. Suitable for Grade 11 to college. Limited 5 year warranty. More Info.

General Science History

In 2000, Greenwich Electronic Time - known as GeT - was initiated in Britain to act as an international standard for all electronic commerce. All e-mail messages and e-commerce transactions already carry a "time stamp" based on Co-ordinated Universal Time - the modern equivalent of GMT. Most computer clocks have software which converts e-mail and message dates into local time. The move will provide a single time standard for worldwide Internet traders and users around the world in the same way that Greenwich Mean Time has helped travellers to keep time since 1884.

Biology

In 1937, at the physiological research facility at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, outfitting was completed, and it was ready to undertake its first work. It was the first of its kind in America. The U.S. Air Corps now had a laboratory to improve health and safety for pilots. The first effort was a series of animal experiments to gather baseline physiological data on hypoxia, and the effects of explosive decompression. The Physiological Research Unit was established 18 May 1935 with Capt. Harry G. Armstrong as the director. Later, here, the first centrifuge in the U.S. allowed scientists to investigate the physiological effects of G-forces on humans. The design of modern pressurized aircraft is a result of work done here. On 10 Feb 1939, the unit was renamed the Aeromedical Research Laboratory.

Chemistry

In 1915, Aspirin was made available for the first time in tablet form. The pills were manufactured by Bayer pharmaceuticals in Germany. The medicine had previously been sold in powder form from 1 May 1899. Salicin, the parent compound of the salicylate drug family had been isolated from willow bark in 1829. From 1875, sodium salicylate was used as a commercial pain reliever, despite side effects such as bleeding of the stomach lining. On 10 Aug 1897, a German chemist, Felix Hoffmann, working at the Bayer company, found a suitable, less acidic medication, acetylsalicylic acid. It was marketed by Bayer under the "Aspirin" trademark. It has since become the biggest selling drug in the world as an analgesic (anti-pain), anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic (fever-reducer).

Physics

In 1896, German scientist, Wilhelm Röntgen announced his discovery of X-rays. He sent copies of his manuscript and some of his X-ray photographs to several renowned physicists and friends, including Lord Kelvin in Glasgow and Henri Poincaré in Paris. Four days later, on 5 Jan 1896, Die Presse published the news in a front-page article which described the discovery and suggested new methods of medical diagnoses might be made with this new kind of radiation. One day later, the London Standard cabled the news to other countries around the world about the "a light which for the purpose of photography will penetrate wood, flesh, cloth, and most other organic substances." It printed the first English-language account the next day.

Earth Science

In 1925, a paper by Edwin Hubble described how he had measured that the Andromeda galaxy was at a far greater distance than, and thus not part of, our Milky Way galaxy. That significantly extended the known view of the universe. His paper was read, by H.N. Russell, to a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Washington, D.C. Hubble had observed Cepheid variable stars in the Milky and Andromeda galaxies. He applied Henrietta Leavitt's discovery that for such stars, pulsation rate and absolute brightness were related in a predictable way. If two such stars have the same pulsation rate, they have the same absolute brightness. If one appears less bright, it is further away. Comparing apparent brightness with absolute brightness (known from the pulsation rate) gives distance measurement.

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What nature delivers to us is never stale. Because what nature creates has eternity in it. - Isaac Bashevis Singer

Thank you for your support of Capital Microscope. Together we can bring the joy and excitement of science to students. They will then carry this knowledge into the future. Contact us when you need assistance in determining the best science materials for your classroom. We look forward to working with you.

Holiday Specials

Do you have a budding scientist in your life? Are you looking for the perfect gift for them this year. Check out the MicroscopesAndMore Specials for some great ideas. This year you're not only getting a great price on a quality microscope but also you're getting a Microscope Discovery Kit that includes:

• 5 plain glass slides
• 1 single concave slide
• 4 prepared slides
• Coverslips
• Slide labels
• Lens paper booklet
• 2 bottles of non-toxic stain (red & blue)
• 1 pair of tweezers
• 1 plastic dropper
• 1 wooden stir stick
• 1 cotton swab
• 1 plastic petri dish
• 1 plastic test tube

Black Friday/Small Business Saturday

Thanksgiving is approaching quickly which also means that Black Friday shopping isn't far behind. This year MicroscopesAndMore will be offering 5% off your entire order when you use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout. Plus you'll get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $150.

This year we will be participating in Small Business Saturday. So come by MicroscopesAndMore and shop small. Use coupon code SMALLBIZSAT at checkout to receive 5% off your entire order. Plus you'll get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $150.

November Science Newsletter

The school year is in full swing and we realize that you have a lot of exciting activities happening both in your science classroom and in the school. We are here to relieve some of the pressure of finding the best in science equipment to enhance science for your students. Please feel free to contact us for the personal service you can use to find science materials.

Our new website at MicroscopesandMore is a great resource for the newest in science education. And when you order more than $150, shipping is free. After you explore our new website contact us if you have any questions.

We hope you and your students continue to enjoy the science facts included with every newsletter. Let us know if you would like to see a particular item discussed.

November Featured Products

Handheld Digital Camera

This easy to use 5.0MP USB handheld digital microscope camera is versatile, suitable for testing, measuring, and photographing specimen at home, in an educational setting, or in the lab. Compact in design, this camera is perfect for scientific research, industrial inspection, and hobby and leisure. Images and video can be taken by pressing the button on the camera or through included imaging software. More Info...

Swift Compound Microscope

Introducing a new look to our flagship model of the Swift Optical education line. The new Swift M3600 series continues the Swift tradition for innovation, quality and student-proof features, and updates our well-known M3500 classic model series with a brand new look and design. Built-in handle, built-in mechanical stage (M3602 models only), variable LED illumination and lead-free objectives, are just some of the state-of-the-art features that makes this series in a class of its own. Ideal for high schools and advanced grade levels. More Info...

Laser Optical Demonstrator

This optical geometric apparatus offers a compact, convenient and comprehensive set up with a metal dish template that has 360º rotation. 13 optical components are included such as a rectangular prism, a trapezoid prism, a right angle prism, a semicircular lens, a convex lens and a concave lens. Students can also examine light ray paths in liquids with a rectangular acrylic cell and two mirrors with combined concave and convex planes. A periscope model, a Galilean telescope model, a Kepler telescope model and an optical fiber unit are included. More Info...

General Science History

In 1873, Joseph F. Glidden began manufacturing his new invention of barbed wire, having filed for a patent a few days before, on 27 Oct 1873 which was issued on 24 Nov 1874. The barbs were cut from sheet metal and were inserted between two wires which were twisted considerably more than with today's common design. This product would transform the West. Before this innovation, settlers on the treeless plains had no easy way to fence livestock away from cropland, and ranchers had no way to prevent their herds from roaming far and wide. Glidden's barbed wire opened the plains to large-scale farming, and closed the open range, bringing the era of the cowboy and the round-up to an end.

Biology

In 1977, the identification of methanogens, a form of life dating back some 3.5 billion years, was reported by scientists at the University and Illinois. Microbiologist Carl R. Woese had long studied the evolutionary track of DNA and RNA. In 1976, he was approached by his colleague Ralph Wolfe, who presented a group of methane producing organisms. Woese studied their RNA and recognized their lack of the entire oligonucleotide sequences. He discovered the organisms were so different from bacteria, they deserved their own branch of the family tree as the third domain of life, Archaea. Methanogens are found in oxygen-deficient environments, and mostly obtain their energy by reducing carbon dioxide and oxidizing hydrogen, with the production of methane.

Chemistry

In 1772, Antoine Lavoisier reported in a note to the Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences that in the previous week he had discovered that sulphur and phosphorus when burned increased in weight because they absorbed "air," while the metallic lead formed when litharge was heated with charcoal weighed less than the original litharge because it had lost "air." The exact nature of the airs concerned in the processes he could not yet explain, and he proceeded to study the question extensively. Lavoisier's investigation of the role of air in combustion would change the way chemists viewed combustion.

Physics

In 1943, the X-10 nuclear reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory went "critical" with a self-sustaining fission reaction - the world's second reactor to achieve one. The reactor took just nine urgent months to build. Over the next year, the reactor performed flawlessly, irradiating thousands of fuel slugs, which were disassembled and dissolved so the plutonium could be extracted, bit by precious bit. It was an experimental reactor far larger and more advanced than Fermi's Chicago pile: a graphite cube 24 feet on each side, with seven-foot-thick concrete walls for radiation shielding. By the end of 1944, the reactor's most urgent mission had been completed and its focus shifted to radioisotope production for medicine and research.

Earth Science

In 1572, a supernova was first noted by Wolfgang Schuler of Wittenberg (?-1575) in the W-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia but was seen by many observers throughout Europe and in the Far East. It appeared as a new star, adjacent to the fainter star seen just northwest of the middle of the "W." Tycho Brahe first noticed this new star on 11 Nov 1572, and he began to meticulously record its appearance. Although he was not the first to see it, he gained fame from his book Stella Nova (Latin: "new star"). For two weeks it was brighter than any other star in the sky and visible in daytime. By month's end, it began to fade and change colour, from bright white to yellow and orange to faint reddish light. It was visible to the naked eye for about 16 months until Mar 1574.

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The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds. - Tryon Edwards

Thank you for your support of Capital Microscope. We are very proud to be your representatives and look forward to providing you with the personal and professional support for your science education needs.