Today in Science Blog Posts
Extracting DNA: From Pumpkins to Mammoths
Here, we go over how to recover DNA from a pumpkin using a simple experiment, as well as how scientists made a recent breakthrough in DNA extraction research.
Happy Birthday, Adhémar Jean Claude Barré de Saint-Venant
The shallow water equations, a derivation of the Navier–Stokes equations, and Saint-Venant’s principle can all be credited to French physicist Adhémar Jean Claude Barré de Saint-Venant.
The History and Science Behind Vinyl Records
As vinyl records explode in popularity, we take a look back at the history of records, as well as the interesting science behind how they are produced — and how they play music.
Happy Birthday, Egon Orowan
Egon Orowan found that the theory of dislocations could be used to explain the plastic deformation of ductile materials. He also studied geological fracture, munitions production, and more.
Happy Birthday, John Sealy Townsend
From fluorescent light bulbs and Geiger counters to plasma televisions and semiconductor manufacturing, Townsend discharge has many important applications. Who discovered this phenomenon?
Why Do Pigeons Have Iridescent Feathers?
If you look at a pigeon a certain way, the feathers around their necks shine in bright hues of emerald and amethyst. As it turns out, a prehistoric animal exhibited a similar trait…
Happy Birthday, Joseph Fourier
From heat conduction and the Fourier series to the greenhouse effect and Fourier transform, Joseph Fourier’s research has many implications in the modern world.
Happy Birthday, Claude-Louis Navier
When you hear the name Navier, you probably think of fluid flow or the Navier–Stokes equations. But did you know that Claude-Louis Navier worked as a bridge designer and civil engineer?