Category: Discoveries

Sir Humphrey Davy

Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829) was an extremely talented chemist, poet and inventor. Born in Cornwall and employed in Bristol at the Pneumatic […]

Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829) was an extremely talented chemist, poet and inventor. Born in Cornwall and employed in Bristol at the Pneumatic Institution, he first became known for his experiments with nitrous oxide, or ‘laughing gas’, by breathing it in himself. His friends tried it, too! Later, it would start to be used as an anaesthetic in dentistry.

Davy then moved to London in 1801 and succeeded in isolating the elements of sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine and iodine, among others, using the newly discovered process of electrolysis. He was also admired as a lecturer and was Professor of Chemistry from 1802 to 1812 at the Royal Institution. His presentation style was very popular as he was a charismatic speaker and used visual aids to great effect. His desire to communicate was also shown in his lifelong devotion to writing poetry, uncommon for a scientist.

In 1816, he invented a miner’s safety lamp which reduced the danger of explosions caused by naked flames in coal mines. This lamp is known as the ‘Davy lamp’.

*Image: Liceo Classico Giulio Perticari, Senigallia at Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0*

(Top image: Wellcome Collection at Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0)

21/10/2018
3 min
7 years
190 words

Discoveries

Halley’s comet

Halley’s comet, officially called 1P/Halley, is named after Dr. Edmund Halley (1656-1742) from London, who was the first to calculate that it […]

Halley’s comet, officially called 1P/Halley, is named after Dr. Edmund Halley (1656-1742) from London, who was the first to calculate that it returned every 75 to 76 years. One of its famous appearances was in 1066, just before the invasion of Britain by William the Conqueror. He took it to be a sign of success and it was shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. The comet’s next appearance to the naked eye on Earth will be in 2061.

Dr. Halley published his theory in 1705 after analysing reports of observations in 1531, 1607 and 1682 and collating the similarities. Before that, people thought each sighting was of a different comet rather than the same one coming back. He would have had to live to the age of 101 to see the return of the comet he observed in 1682. Instead he died aged 85, having held the position of Astronomer Royal, the most prestigious accolade in astronomy, since 1720.

Halley’s theory has been supported by scientists’ use of high-powered telescopes and probes sent up to take samples around the comet during its last visit, in 1986.

(Image: NASA Universe at Flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

16/10/2018
3 min
7 years
184 words

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