Category Archives: Science

The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Big History

Posted on August 7, 2017 by launiusr

I would welcome comments on this proposed roundtable session that we are undertaking for the American Historical Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in January 2018. “The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Big History” Abstract: “Big History” has emerged in the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Science | Tagged astronomy, Big History, Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present, biology, cosmology, Cynthia Stokes Brown, David Christian, Earth science, geology, Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History, The New Press, University of California Press, William H. McNeill | 2 Comments

Considering the Moon

Posted on July 31, 2017 by launiusr

What is it about the Moon that captures the fancy of humankind? A silvery disk hanging in the night sky, it conjures up images of romance and magic. It has been counted upon to foreshadow important events, both of good … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War Competition, History, Science, Space | Tagged Autour de la Lune (Around the Moon), De la Terre a la Lune (From the Earth to the Moon), Donna Reed, Frank Capra, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Jimmy Stewart, Jules Verne, Moon | Leave a comment

Palgrave Features the Series Jim Fleming and I Edit

Posted on July 28, 2017 by launiusr

With #ICHST2017 underway in Brazil, this week our #SeriesoftheWeek focusses on the History of Science & Technology

Posted in History, Science | Tagged Intternational Congress on the History of Science and Technology, James Rodger Fleming, Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology | Leave a comment

Cassini Arrives at Saturn: Happy Anniversary!

Posted on June 30, 2017 by launiusr

Representing the international character of many NASA planetary missions since Voyager, Cassini-Huygens, a joint effort of NASA, the European Space Agency, and Italian Space Agency, has also proved to be an incredible success. It seems appropriate to recall this mission … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Science, Space | Tagged Cassini, cassini spacecraft, climate, european space agency, Huygens, italian space agency, NASA, orbit saturn, public policy, Saturn, science, space science, theory of general relativity, U.S. Civil Space, wide angle camera | 1 Comment

Wednesday’s Book Review: “A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency”

Posted on June 28, 2017 by launiusr

A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency. By Glenn Greenwald. New York: Crown Publishers, 2007. Reporter Glenn Greenwald’s thesis is straightforward: George W. Bush approached every issue he faced as one on which the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Personal, Politics, Religion, Science | Tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, american innocence, bush presidency, George W. Bush, Glenn Greenwald, global war on terrorism, Iraq, libya, occupy-wall-street, politics, Rafael Medoff | Leave a comment

Planetary Protection: Announcing a New National Academies Study

Posted on June 16, 2017 by launiusr

The National Academies has just published the interim report, “The Goals, Rationales, and Definition of Planetary Protection.” It makes for really interesting reading. You may find a downloadable copy here.

Posted in Science, Space | Tagged "The Goals, and Definition of Planetary Protection", interim report, Mars, NASA, National Academies, Rationales | Leave a comment

Wednesday’s Book Review: “Intimate Universality”

Posted on May 31, 2017 by launiusr

Intimate Universality: Local and Global Themes in the History of Climate and Weather. Edited by James Rodger Fleming, Vladimir Jankovic, and Deborah R. Coen. Sagamore Beach: MA: Science History Publications, 2006. Although nearly a decade old now, Intimate Universality is a … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Science | Tagged Deborah R. Coen, Greg Cushman, Greg Good, Intimate Universality: Local and Global Themes in the History of Climate and Weather, James Rodger Fleming, Roger Turner, Science History Publications, Vladimir Jankovic, William Herschel | Leave a comment

An Intimate Past?

Posted on May 22, 2017 by launiusr

A debate has been taking place among historians for many years about the nature of the past and perceptions of it, both by historians and by the larger public. Some have insisted that it is, and I find this term … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, History, Personal, Politics, Science, Space | Tagged "America on the Move", "The Price of Freedom", Apollo, cold war, Dik Daso, international relations, Moon, NASA, public perceptions, Steve Lubar | Leave a comment

Robotic Emissaries to the Stars

Posted on May 8, 2017 by launiusr

Five spacecraft from Earth are currently moving out into the stars. After their operations cease, these spacecraft will continue to coast indefinitely. None of them will come close to any known stars, and it is unlikely they will encounter any … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Personal, Science, Space | Tagged Clyde Tombaugh, NASA, New Horizons, Pioneer, Pioneer Plaque, planetary exploration, space science, U.S. Civil Space, Voyager | 1 Comment

Wednesday’s Book Review: “The Gravity Well: America’s Next, Greatest Mission”

Posted on March 22, 2017 by launiusr

The Gravity Well: America’s Next, Greatest Mission. By Stephen Sandford with Jay Heinrichs. Pacific Grove, CA: Gavia Books, 2016. Appendices, acknowledgments, index. 304 pages. ISBN: 978-0-9962422-9-5. Hardcover with dustjacket $24.95 USD. I have been reading books such as The Gravity … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Science, Space | Tagged Bigelow Aerospace, Blue Origins, Gavia Books, GDP, Greatest Mission, Jay Heinrichs, K-T event, Larry Niven, SpaceX, Spinoffs, STEM, Stephen Sandford, The Gravity Well: America’s Next | Leave a comment