Browsing: Nature

A Brief History On September 21, 1921, as many as 600 Germans learned of a new way to die when a silo in Oppau, Germany (part of modern-day Ludwigshafen, Germany), exploded with great force, injuring another 2,000 unfortunate workers.  As you probably know, silos are tower like cylindrical structures usually used to store foodstuffs such as grain and corn.  In this case, the silo in question was at a BASF plant and was used to store ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate. Digging Deeper You may also be aware that ammonium nitrate can be used as a mixture with fuel oil…

A Brief History On September 17, 1683, Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek presented a paper to the Royal Society (The President, Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge) containing a description of the first scientific recognition of microbes/protozoa, a living thing he referred to as “animalcules” (single celled organisms).  Although van Leeuwenhoek had designed his microscope himself and is known as “The Father of Microbiology,” he was definitely not the inventor of the microscope.  In fact, exactly who is the inventor of this highly important contribution to science is not agreed upon by historians.…

A Brief History On September 6, 1803, pioneering atomic theorist John Dalton of England first assigned symbols to represent atoms of various elements.  Dalton, born into a Quaker family, is well known among scholars and scientists for his work but has little of the fame and popular recognition accorded many other better known scientists.  Although atomic theory is the field of science most associated with Dalton, he also studied and reported on many other areas of scientific inquiry. Digging Deeper Dalton was born into a poor family in 1766, and although he did receive an education from his father and…

A Brief History On September 1, 2018, men across the world get revenge on women for living longer and getting better car insurance deals, by celebrating World Beard Day!  Next time some woman tells you, “I can do anything better than you!” you tell that feisty female, “Oh yeah?  Let’s have a beard growing contest.”  (Unfortunately, some women can actually grow a beard, especially with hormone treatment, so be careful who you challenge.)  Although we have not had a bearded President for many years, and the fact that Russia once instituted a tax on beards in order to discourage their…

A Brief History On August 25, 1823, mountain man and fur trapper Hugh Glass was attacked by a Grizzly Bear while on a fur taking and exploring expedition in what is now South Dakota.  The terrible injuries Glass suffered and his fierce determination to live have been recalled for history by not 1, but 2 major motion pictures, Man in the Wilderness (1971) and The Revenant (2015).  We have previously discussed this famous incident in our article, “10 Incredible Tales of Survival.”  Today we will discuss 10 cases of animal attacks on human beings that are famous or infamous, either…