• This Week In Science History: Brian Nunnally

    April 2, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    It is with great sadness that I announce that this will be my last regular blog post for Think Science Now and my series This Week In Science History (TWISH).  I have enjoyed blogging here for the past two years and thought it was a good idea for my send off to highlight some of ...

  • This Week in Science History: Robert Bunsen

    March 26, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    Continuing my famous chemist series, This Week in Science History (TWISH) we celebrate the birthday of Robert Bunsen.  Bunsen was born on March 30, 1811 (historians disagree as to whether it was the 30th or 31st) in Göttingen, Kingdom of Westphalia (now modern day Germany).  The son of a professor at the University of Göttingen, ...

  • This Week in Science History: Robert A Millikan

    March 19, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    Consider the following choice.  Would you rather be famous for sustained excellence, but never greatness, or be known for one great moment of excellence?  My subject this week probably should be known for both, but his one great moment overshadows any other work.  Our honoree is known for one, albeit very important, experiment.    This ...

  • This Week in Science History: Albert Einstein

    March 12, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    I have profiled many famous scientists over the nearly two years I have been writing this blog.  I always feel a bit uneasy about doing it.  What can I offer that has not been written?  However, it is important to discuss the giants of science and to put their work in context, even if my ...

  • This Week in Science History: Stanley Miller

    March 5, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    Science is so cool!  In a different era, I could have seen myself as a natural philosopher considering my interests in chemistry, biology, theology and history.  The subject of today’s This Week in Science History (TWISH) blog is a modern day natural philosopher.  Stanley Miller was born in Oakland, California on March 7, 1930.  He ...

  • This Week in Science History: Ernest Lawrence

    February 27, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    As everyone knows, 2012 is a leap year, so it only seems appropriate that I select a February 29th anniversary this week!  To celebrate This Week in Science History I considered selecting Herman Hollerith, born on 02/29/1860, but I have already profiled him on the anniversary of his patent for the tabulating machine.  In addition, ...

  • This Week in Science History: Nicolaus Copernicus

    February 17, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    Every week is a great week for science!  This Week in Science History is one of the best as I was tempted by way too many anniversaries.  So many cool things happened this week: Arrhenius (02/19/1859) and Boltzmann (02/20/1844) were born (in addition to several Nobel laureates born this week), new ocean life is found ...

  • This Week in Science History: Charles Darwin

    February 13, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    Charles Robert Darwin is one of the few scientists who has transcended science into popular culture and the mainstream of public consciousness. In the United States, one does not have to look far to see his name, as it can routinely be spotted on the backs of cars. Schoolchildren and even the huddled masses know ...

  • This Week in Science History: Josiah Willard Gibbs

    February 6, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

     I love chemistry and reading about famous chemists. Further, I really like writing about them; perhaps educating current scientists about their contributions and backgrounds. This Week In Science History, I am profiling another in my famous chemist series, J. Willard Gibbs, who was born this week, on February 11, 1839.   Gibbs came from a long ...

  • This Week in Science History: Explorer 1 & The First Primate in Space

    January 30, 2012

    By Brian Nunnally,
    Associate Director

    I am an unapologetic and enthusiastic supporter of the space program, so space anniversaries naturally appeal to me. This Week in Science History, two important space anniversaries occurred on January 31.  I’ll discuss each one separately.  On January 31, 1958, the United States officially entered the space race with the launching of the satellite Explorer ...