This Month in the Archives

Dive into 174 years of groundbreaking research

This Month in the Archives

Dear Reader, We celebrate Darwin Day on February 12. The publication of his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859 was the cornerstone of our understanding of the mechanisms of biological evolution. Also, Darwin was fond of dogs, as companions and as a naturalist’s window into the animal world; we apparently have been of like mind. (Coincidentally and neatly, the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show overlaps with Darwin day.) And February hosts Valentine’s Day: a time to appreciate Venus, the goddess of love—except that as a science magazine, we’d rather relish humanity’s discoveries about the planet.   Enjoy the journey! Dan Schlenoff, editor of “50, 100 & 150 Years Ago” Interested in gaining access to 174 years of groundbreaking research? Darwin Was Here The naturalist Charles Darwin in 1855, four years before the publication of On the Origin of Species. From the July 2000 article. Charles Robert Darwin, a keen and observant naturalist, developed a biological theory over the course of 26 years. His description of evolution has withstood the test of time and served as the foundation of a widely expanded understanding of all biology. April 1882: Darwin’s obituary recognizes his “revolution … in modern thought” and praises his “unswerving loyalty to truth” as his most eminent characteristic. March 1959: Evolution in action: moths were light-colored 150 years ago. As factories multiplied and the landscape darkened, dark-colored moths became more common. July 2000: Ernst Mayr states that Darwin changed biology—and also the philosophy of science and “the modern zeitgeist.” August 2018: The religious backlash against evolution leads biology teachers in the classroom to focus on the subject as a biological system.   From Wolf to Woof Do NOT try this at home: wild foxes are not pets! Unless you just spent six decades breeding foxes selected for tameness over dozens of generations. See May 2017. Dogs have worked for humans for millennia, helping us hunt and guard households, livestock and granaries. Their emotional and intellectual capacity makes them capable of being part of the family. May 1891: Dog breeds “are the work of man” bred for specific purposes—and only lately as pets and family members. January 1919: “The Dogs of War” looks at the canine conscripts in the First World War; their work included carrying bread and messages to the trenches. May 2017: How does a wild canid become a pet dog? A spectacular six-decade experiment in Siberia tests one theory. February 2018: One entrepreneur is helping Mongolian goat herders conserve steppe land by bringing back indigenous livestock guardian dogs.   Hotter than Hades The Pioneer Venus Orbiter, bristling with instruments, probed the planetary atmosphere for 14 years. Article from April 1994. The planet Venus, the delightfully brilliant Morning Star, veiled in a demure cloak of clouds: What joys and wonders could exist on its surface? Now we know. It’s hellaciously unfriendly to life. February 1891: A science-fiction excerpt from an astronomer describes an interesting stroll on Venus, which was thought to be “intensely, bitterly cold.” December 1940: Careful study of spectral lines and basic physics lead to the conclusion that “the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere must serve as a very efficient heat trap.” April 1994: The 14-year study by the satellite Pioneer Venus Orbiter concludes: “Venus is the planetary equivalent of hell.” March 1999: “Global Climate Change on Venus” combines geologic and atmospheric data to unravel the history of the tortured Venusian climate.   Current Issue: February 2019 How does the brain recognize faces? Recent steps to understanding the answer are a major breakthrough. And if we decode how the brain computes the data, we can code computers to use the same techniques. Plus: Venus: it’s awful. But figuring out how our celestial neighbor got that way could guide us on our search for life on other planets around nearby stars. Indigenous groups in Colombia are working to shield their fierce, but highly vulnerable, neighbors: the “Tiger People.” Here’s how a collapsing glacier in Antarctica could affect you in the near future. For more highlights from the archives, you can read February's 50, 100 & 150 Years Ago column.       Follow Us   To view this email as a web page, go here. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add news@email.scientificamerican.com to your address book. Unsubscribe Manage Email Preferences FAQs Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact Us