Rocket Propulsion Into Space

The physical law under which rockets operate was first set down almost three hundred years ago by Sir Isaac Newton, an English mathematician, without whose work our exciting space explorations of today would be impossible. This law states that to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The recoil of a gun when it is fired is an example of the forces of action and reaction at work. The action of the gases exhausting from a rocket’s nozzles at great speed produces a reaction of... Read more »

Johnston’s Contribution To Calligraphy

Calligrapher Edward Johnston contributed a lot to the modern world of calligraphy. Looking back through the ages it can be seen that calligraphy has played an important part in the development of civilization, and that it has manifested itself in many ways and through many agents. It can first be seen on papyrus in Egypt in the hieratic writing of the Papyrus Prisse dated about 2500 B.C. It is next observed in Greece where it had been practiced since the third century B.C., and later turns up in... Read more »

A History of Science Fairs

Back in October, 1828, The American Institute of the City of New York, “incorporated for the purpose of encouraging and promoting domestic industry in this State and the United States in Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures and the Arts”, held its first industrial fair. The exhibition was held in New York at a time when the 416 “watchmen” that comprised the city’s “Finest” were busy keeping the streets clear of stray cows, horses and pigs. Travel to the other... Read more »

How to Plan A Science Project

Although the best science projects seldom are created according to a recipe, there is an orderly series of steps that is followed pretty universally by successful students and professional scientists. Seven Steps to a Successful Project Decide on the specific problem or process you want to investigate. Think it through, planning progressive steps, controls and checks in some detail. Try to foresee blind alleys before you become stalled in them. List unwanted factors that might influence your results... Read more »

How to Begin A Scientific Career

If your inclination is towards a scientific career, naturally the place to begin building your future is in the place where you are right now. If you are in junior or senior high school, for instance, you can take a second look at the courses you plan to schedule. If you have not included all the mathematics and science you can fit in, perhaps there is still time to do so. If it seems that you have passed the point of no return for some of these, possibly you can take them in concentrated form at... Read more »

How to Choose A Topic for A Science Fair

Stumped for a good idea? Interesting project possibilities can be found almost anywhere you look. During late fall and early winter of every year, at thousands of high schools across the country, hundreds of thousands of prospective science fairers buckle down to the task of selecting a project. Finding a suitable theme or topic is the first and, without question, the most important step in planning a winning project. Every future decision about building the project, where to shop, who to speak to,... Read more »

Helicopter History and the Technology of Today

One of the most important inventions in the Aeronautical industry of the 20th century is the helicopter. What many people don’t know though is that Leonardo da Vinci sketched a helicopter which was manually piloted. The genius did this around the year 1500. The first utilizable helicopter appeared much later though, in the 20th century, at the end of the 1930s. There are many differences between an airplane and a helicopter, obviously. A plane, in order to be able to move, has to execute a... Read more »

Fumehoods Promote Speedy Criminal Evidence Processing

Most small law enforcement agencies have to rely on larger agencies to process even the most basic of crime scene information for them. This is because their lab equipment isn’t advanced enough to handle the job. The problem for the small agency, however, is the fact the larger agency’s labs are usually backed up and valuable time can be lost in the processing and ultimate catching of the bad guy. Saving precious time can sometimes be as simple as adding a proper fume hood station to... Read more »

A GPS System Will Take You Anywhere

The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a “constellation” of 24 well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth and make it possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location. The location accuracy is anywhere from 1 to 100 meters depending on the type of equipment used. The GPS is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, but is available for general use around the world. Many people use it for many different reasons. Here are just a few of the more... Read more »

A Look Into The Cosmos: How Telescopes Work

Once Galileo discovered the telescope, there was a sudden leap from fantasy and legends to reality. And reality was so much more fantastic than the world had ever dreamed of. So quickly, planets and stars which were specks in the sky, some of them not even visible to the naked eye, came close and shared their secrets with us. It was a whole new voyage of discovery into the heavens and the wonders that were in it. It was the bridge that connected the world with the rest of the universe. It was the... Read more »