An Introduction to the Astrolabe
This post make available an ePamphlet version of my “Introductory History of Astrolabes.” The pamphlet is currently available as a PDF or an iBooks format.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 02/07 at 12:16 AM
PACHSmörgåsbord
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
Plague Textual Analysis
I wanted to see what happens when you feed a few plague tracts into Wordle and to think about whether or not it would be useful in my course on plagues and epidemics. While I’m not sure if it is useful, the results are interesting.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 02/06 at 01:40 PM
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Marketing Drugs, Then and Now
An article in the NY Times reports on Mary Ebeling’s recent research on direct marketing in the pharmaceutical industry. It recalls for me the techniques used a century ago to sell patent medicines.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/29 at 12:06 PM
Friday, January 27, 2012
Grinding Telescope Mirrors, Then and Now
The recent article at NPR on grinding mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope reveals that tacit knowledge and skills are as important now as ever. Technological developments and sophistication do not reduce the role of the skilled technician.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/27 at 02:06 PM
(2) Comments •
Thursday, January 26, 2012
An Introductory History of Astrolabes
Shanna Freeman over at Curiosity.com made a significant error in her comments about the astrolabe. In order to correct her missteps, I decided to post a draft of a history of astrolabes I wrote a few years back.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/26 at 10:58 PM
(7) Comments •
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Politics of Calendar Reform
Yesterday’s debates about whether or not to continue inserting a leap second are nothing new. In fact, these most recent debates and, ultimately, the decision to postpone making decision, sound a lot like medieval and early modern effort to reform a calendar or adjust time keeping practices.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/20 at 10:53 AM
(7) Comments •
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Retro-Diagnosis Run Amok—Sophocles’ Plague of Thebes
In recent efforts to retro-diagnose a plague physicians have turned their attention to a fictional plague. How can this be good history or good science?
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/17 at 03:47 PM
Saturday, January 14, 2012
BSHS Travel Guide Seeks History of Science Articles about Philadelphia
The British Society for History of Science seeks articles about Philadelphia history of science attractions.
Posted by Paul Halpern on 01/14 at 07:22 PM
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Is Grandma to Blame for Obesity Today?
This post takes Shari Roan to task for her recent article on obesity that appeared in the LA Times and has since been reposted around the internet. Roan’s article is a shoddy piece of reporting.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 01/05 at 01:58 PM
(2) Comments •
Saturday, December 31, 2011
On Collecting and Collectors
The NY Times recently posted a “Room for Debate” topic asking “Why we Collect Stuff.” This post reflects on what I think worked well in that debate and where I would have liked to see the participants say more.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 12/31 at 12:54 AM