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In the calendar of celestial events, a total solar eclipse stands out as a remarkable phenomenon, captivating observers around the world with its obscuration of the sun by the moon. This particular eclipse carves a path that offers a unique observational experience, merging scientific intrigue with natural beauty.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon positions itself directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow upon the Earth. The rarity of a total solar eclipse lies in the specific alignment required for the moon to cover almost all the sun. This totality provides a unique daytime darkness that transforms the environment in a way few natural events can.

The viewable path of the eclipse begins in Texas, and runs diagonally through 13 other states. While the path of the eclipse is very long, it is only 115 miles wide, limiting the area that is in totality greatly. Areas that are not in the center of the path will only be able to view a partial solar eclipse, which will have decreased obscuration the further you are from the direct path. In the direct path for totality, the eclipse and daytime darkness can have a duration lasting over 4 minutes, while areas that are out of the direct path will view only a partial eclipse, and for some, only for a few brief moments.

The path of this eclipse traverses areas that have not experienced such an astronomical event in decades. Though the last total solar eclipse took place in 2017, the next total solar eclipse won’t take place until 2026, and totality will only occur in European countries. The next total solar eclipse that will take place in the United States is expected in August 2044, and even then, only a small part of the US will have a view of totality. The following year, 2045, will have a total eclipse with a much broader view for most Americans. The over 20 year gap between total eclipses in the US will truly make this upcoming April 8th eclipse a once in a lifetime experience for many.

It is crucial to discuss the importance of protective eye equipment, specifically under these circumstances. Even during a partial eclipse, the sun’s brightness is diminished, leading many to assume it is safe to observe without protection. The danger lies in the invisible ultraviolet and infrared radiation that can still penetrate the eye, causing severe and permanent damage to the retina.  Within the duration of the daytime darkness, your iris will expand, allowing more light into your eyes. This can be dangerous, specifically as the eclipse ends and the sunlight returns to normal.

In essence, the total solar eclipse is not just a testament to the wonders of our solar system.It underscores the beauty of our universe’s predictability, reminding us of the ongoing dance between the celestial bodies that govern our night and day.

Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024: Path Map and Times (timeanddate.com)

What Is a Total Solar Eclipse, and How Long Do They Last? (timeanddate.com)

Future Eclipses (nasa.gov)

Total Solar Eclipse on August 22–23, 2044: Path Map and Times (timeanddate.com)

Solar Eclipse of August 12 2045 | TheSkyLive.com

Heated Magnetic Stirrers are a critical piece of laboratory equipment that has a long and fascinating history. The concept of using magnetic fields to stir liquids dates back to the early 1900s when scientists first discovered that magnetic fields could be used to generate a current in a conductor, which could then be used to stir a liquid.

In 1917, the first patent for an “Electrical Drink Mixer,” was filed by Richard H. Stringham. Early models used different magnetic components and were limited in their ability to control temperature. It was not until the 1950s that the first commercially available heated magnetic stirrers were developed after a patent was filed in 1944, which combined upgraded stirring capabilities with the temperature control capabilities of heating plates.

Heated magnetic stirrers have proven to be a valuable mainstay in any laboratory, offering a unique combination of temperature control and stirring capabilities. Their invention and development have been driven by the need for more efficient and precise methods of mixing liquids in the laboratory. With the continued advancements in technology, heated magnetic stirrers are likely to play an even more important role in chemical and biological research in the future. Whether it’s for synthesizing new compounds, conducting reaction kinetics studies, or growing cells in culture, heated magnetic stirrers provide researchers with the tools they need to make accurate and reproducible measurements.

US1242493A – Electrical drink-mixer. – Google Patents

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2350534

Black History Month is here! The month of February was declared to be “Black History Month,” which was first observed on the second week of February in 1926. The dates selected correlated with both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas’ birthdays. The Nation Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, was also founded in February of 1909. At its core, Black History Month is a celebration of the achievements of African Americans throughout history. Today, we’ll take a look at some remarkable African American Scientists and their achievements throughout history. 

Percy Julian

Percy Julian was a remarkable individual. Born in 1899, he was a grandchild to slaves. Percy grew up in Montgomery Alabama, where he would be unable to attend High School. This was because the area at the time lacked a black or integrated Highschool. Thriving through adversity, he would attend DePauw University in Indiana. Percy went on to be a lab instructor at Fisk University, before being accepted to Harvard with a full scholarship. He then achieved a Ph.D. in Austria. After school, he wanted to leave academics and applied as a chemist at several established chemical companies. Most jobs were denied because of his race. Eventually, he developed something called “Aero Foam,” with the Glidden Company. The product was very effective at eliminating gas fires. With some security, he established his own laboratory called Julian Laboratories, building it from the ground up. In 1961, he would sell his laboratory making him one of the first black millionaires.

Shirley Ann Jackson

Shirley Jackson was born in Washington D.C in 1946. Inspired by the space race, she desires to have an impact in the scientific field. After school, Shirley applied to MIT and was accepted. Shirley was 1 of 2 women in her class, and one of the first black individuals to attend the school. Eventually, she received a Ph.D. degree in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics. She is the first female to graduate with a Ph.D. to do so in school history. After school, she worked as a theoretical physicist at a variety of different places. Throughout the 70s, she worked on a theory to change particle density in the first and second dimensions. Theoretical Physics is considered an astoundingly complex subject matter, and she is considered among the best to study it. She was appointed the president of the National Society of Black Physicists, MIT board of trustees, and numerous other prestigious cabinet positions. Today, she still holds many of these positions. Her achievements, discoveries, and contributions are far too vast to cover in a single blog post.

Halloween is certainly a favorite holiday for millions throughout the world. Though it is widely celebrated throughout the world, it is undeniably unusual. On the surface level, the holiday seems to have misaligned values when compared to other holidays. Where do these unusual traditions come from? Let’s have a closer look at the history of Halloween.

Halloween’s earliest origins trace back around 2,000 years ago. The Celtic people inhabited the land that is now known
as Ireland. These people considered November 1st to be the start of their calendar, making October 31st their New Year’s Eve. This night was called “Samhain,” and called for a huge celebration. On this night, it was believed the realms of the living and the dead merged, though it was only for one night, each calendar.

Hundreds of years later, in recognition of the celebration of Samhain, Pope Gregory III decided November the first would be considered “All Saint’s Day.” This was a celebration for all of the saints in the church. Then, the holiday’s name would be changed to “All Hallows Day.” Over time, the culture of the holiday shifted. Eventually, the day before All Hallows Day, also known as “All Hallows Evening,” became an even more holy celebration than the original All Hallows Day.

In the mid-1800s, All Hallow’s Eve had migrated to the United States, but it was different. It was essentially a hodgepodge of many different cultures’ rituals on the 30th of October. The name changed from “All Hallow’s Eve,” to a more modern name, Halloween. The trend of Trick or Treating has been around since it began in the US; It was an expansion and reinterpretation of traditions past. Around the turn of the century, however, Halloween turned hostile. It focused on the “tricking” of trick or treating. Tricks became more and more devious and called for reform. Our culture continued to shift back to a growing embrace of Halloween. As it grew, it became more and more about the social aspect of holidays. It’s now a night of parties or spending time with loved ones and friends. Maybe now it isn’t so different from the other holidays after all!

Albert Einstein was one of our planet’s most profound minds. Born in 1879 in Württemberg, Germany, he would go on to introduce numerous concepts to the field of theoretical physics. One hundred sixteen years ago today, Einstein first rose to prominence. This is because of his intriguing concepts and principles, first introduced in a publication called “Annalen der Physik.” This was very popular at the time and is still around today. This publication saw the potential genius of Einstein, and on September 27th, 1905 it was decided that his article “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?” would be published. This would be the beginning of Einstein’s scientific career.

The writing Einstein provided was immediately considered brilliant and has since fallen under the classification of iconic in recent years. It’s easy to see why this writing is so widely acclaimed. Einstein would introduce the concept of the theory of relativity to the masses in his debut professional writing. This concept is perhaps more famously known as the “E = mc2” equation. Einstein suggested that the mass of an object multiplied by the speed of light squared equals the amount of kinetic energy that is within the object. The world was immediately aware of his intelligence. Einstein had set up the fundamental building blocks for the theoretical physicists of the coming century.

Einstein would publish another 3 articles for Annalen Der Physik throughout 1905. These would become known as the “Annus Mirabilis Papers,” which documented Einstein’s period of intensive self-education. Needless to say, these were considered impressive to the scientific community at the time. In fact, the year 1905 was considered Einstein’s “miracle year,” because of the profound amount of scientific discovery he had done at the time.

Trevor Riggle, Sept 27 2021

Albert Einstein (Theoretical Physicist) – On This Day

Albert Einstein | Biography, Education, Discoveries, & Facts | Britannica

18 years ago today, on August 27th, 2003, humanity would look upon the stars to an usual sight. Earth’s neighbor planet Mars was astoundingly large, in fact. It was the largest it had been in over 60,000 years. The red planet was a mere 34.6 million miles from earth. While this number still seems very large, we should remember that the average distance from Earth to Mars is around 140 million miles. This puts Mars just about 4 times closer than an average night.

It would be a long time until Mars was a comparable distance to the Earth again. In 2018, however, it almost reached the distance it achieved in 2003. On the night of July 27th, 2018, Mars was only 35.8 million miles from earth. That night, it would also be nearly 10 times brighter than an average night.

While many greatly exaggerated the size of Mars during its journey to the proximity of earth, the truth is that Mars was still significantly smaller than the moon, and only marginally brighter than it typically was. To the trained eye, however, it is quite a spectacle and one that is surely appreciated because of its unusual occurrence. Mars won’t top its record-setting 2003 distance for quite some time. In 2287, the record will finally be broken when Mars will reach only 34.6 million miles away.

Trevor Riggle

August 27th, 2021