This Month in the Archives

Dive into 174 years of groundbreaking research

This Month in the Archives

Dear Reader, October in the U.S. means colder weather, colder oceans, and a reduction in the number and strength of destructive hurricanes. In the meantime, decades of studying these powerful storms has yielded an understanding of how they work. Also featured this month are dinosaurs. They’re just plain fun (after all, they only chase us in the movies)—and we’ve learned a lot about how birds evolved from them. Speaking of learning, how we humans do it is a popular question at Scientific American, and one we tackle below. I hope you enjoy the journey! Dan Schlenoff, editor of “50, 100 & 150 Years Ago” Hurricanes and Cyclones and Typhoons, oh my! Aftermath in Louisiana of Hurricane Katrina. July 2007. We can’t nuke hurricanes as President Trump suggested, but that hasn’t stopped us from trying to figure out other ways of controlling these destructive events. September 1899: An engaging account from a person hired to watch for early signs of the “indescribably relentless fury of a West Indian hurricane.” June 1954: An article by R. H. Simpson (of the Simpson-Saffir wind scale) looked at the inner workings of a hurricane. December 1964: “Hurricane modification”: it was thought that silver iodide injected into a storm system could cause it to collapse. Unfortunately, not so. July 2007: Small increases in ocean temperature can intensify the strength and rainfall of storms.   From Dinosaur to Bird “You lookin’ at me?” Feathered dinosaur shows birdlike traits—and a predator’s gaze. January 2017. The “Jurassic Park” series has popularized the concept that birds evolved from dinosaurs. But scientists have been untangling the evidence since before movies were invented. December 1891: By 1891 the link between birds and reptiles is “an accepted fact in zoology.” February 1998: Fossils of Archaeopteryx and others show “birds evolved from small, predatory dinosaurs that lived on the ground.” February 2003: The feather may have evolved before the bird—but why? January 2017: The evolution of birds from dinosaurs shows powerful natural forces at work.   Brain Matters Is the brain’s mind a computer? The blunt answer: “No.” January 1990. The brain as an organ is complex, but nowhere near as mysterious as how “mind” arises from it. March 1893: The “Duality of the Mind” attempts to puzzle out the connection between the organ and the “will or voluntary life.” October 1948: We’ve made great headway in untangling how parts of the body are controlled by the “master tissue.” January 1990: A computer program can manipulate symbols, but it’s the mind that attaches meaning to them. July 2019: Network neuroscience studies show the wider patterns of activity in the brain that gives rise to cognitive capacity.   Current Issue: October 2019 Before birds evolved, pterosaurs ruled the skies for 160 million years. New fossils and mathematical models are untangling the flight mechanics of these impossibly shaped creatures. Plus: Is death reversible? The partial resurrection of deceased pig brains redefines the end point of life... It would be a good idea to reintroduce rice varieties that are robust when faced with flood, drought, and pests. The playful, inquisitive approach of the Montessori method of education has been updated for today’s preschools. For more highlights from the archives, you can read October’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