Chaplin, Joyce E. The first scientific American; Benjamin Franklin and the pursuit of genius.CHAPLIN, Joyce E. The first scientific American Scientific American U.S. monthly magazine interpreting scientific developments to lay readers. It was founded in 1845 as a newspaper describing new inventions. By 1853 its circulation had reached 30,000 and it was reporting on various sciences, such as astronomy and ; Benjamin Franklin and the pursuit of genius. Perseus, Basic Books. 421 p. illus. notes, index, c2006.0-465-00956-5. $17.50. SA Every school child learns that Ben Franklin was a lifelong student of science, having invented bifocals, the lightning rod, the glass armonica and an efficient stove. Harvard professor Joyce Chaplin broadens the reader's view of the Genius of Philadelphia by detailing Franklin's interest in chemistry, electricity, meteorology meteorology, branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of a planet, particularly that of the earth, the most important application of which is the analysis and prediction of weather. , oceanography oceanography, study of the seas and oceans. The major divisions of oceanography include the geological study of the ocean floor (see plate tectonics) and features; physical oceanography, which is concerned with the physical attributes of the ocean water, such as , "political arithmetic," cartography cartography: see map. cartography or mapmaking Art and science of representing a geographic area graphically, usually by means of a map or chart. Political, cultural, or other nongeographic features may be superimposed. , hydrography hy·drog·ra·phy n. pl. hy·drog·ra·phies 1. The scientific description and analysis of the physical conditions, boundaries, flow, and related characteristics of the earth's surface waters. 2. , the aurora borealis and manned aerial flight. Chaplin's thoroughly researched life of Franklin covers the early years (he was the 15th child of his twice-married father's 17 children), his work as a printer, his family life (including the break with his son William who backed the British during the Revolutionary War), his frequent bouts of ill health, his career as a diplomat and statesman, his many years abroad in London and Paris, his triumphant return to Philadelphia, his correspondence with friends and fellow scientists, his views on slavery, his contributions to the Declaration of Independence, his election to the Royal Society, his debunking de·bunk tr.v. de·bunked, de·bunk·ing, de·bunks To expose or ridicule the falseness, sham, or exaggerated claims of: debunk a supposed miracle drug. of Mesmer's theories about magnetism, and much more. The book is lavishly illustrated and boasts copious notes and an index. It is a new look at the American Merlin, the self-taught scientific genius who never attended Harvard but flourished in spite of or perhaps because of his early struggles. Janet Julian, English Teacher (retired), Grafton, MA S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. |
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