Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Wednesday, August 31, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of Ferdinand von Zeppelin's patent of his eponymous navigable balloon in 1895. If you're interested in the technical details, let's just say it was held aloft by a Whole Lotta Gas.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
August 30, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Tuesday, August 30, 2011.
Today marks the anniversary of the first flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, which made its maiden voyage on this date in 1984. Retired earlier this year, Discovery is planned to be on display at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
Today marks the anniversary of the first flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, which made its maiden voyage on this date in 1984. Retired earlier this year, Discovery is planned to be on display at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
Monday, August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Monday, August 29, 2011.
On this date in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, which allows us to have such things as motors and generators and transformers, oh my!
On this date in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, which allows us to have such things as motors and generators and transformers, oh my!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
August 28, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Sunday, August 28, 2011.
This is the date that William Herschel discovered the moon Enceladus of Saturn in 1789. It was the sixth of Saturn's five dozen or so moons to be discovered and it is also the sixth largest of them. Coincidence? Not really, when you think about it.
This is the date that William Herschel discovered the moon Enceladus of Saturn in 1789. It was the sixth of Saturn's five dozen or so moons to be discovered and it is also the sixth largest of them. Coincidence? Not really, when you think about it.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
August 27, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Saturday, August 27, 2011.
It was on this date in 1859 that oil was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania -- and not only was an industry born, but our whole modern way of life was enabled.
It was on this date in 1859 that oil was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania -- and not only was an industry born, but our whole modern way of life was enabled.
Friday, August 26, 2011
August 26, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Friday, August 26, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the first news dispatch sent by telegraph, in 1858. I don't know what it said, but it must have been pretty important to be transmitted so extravagantly!
Today is the anniversary of the first news dispatch sent by telegraph, in 1858. I don't know what it said, but it must have been pretty important to be transmitted so extravagantly!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
August 25, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Thursday, August 25, 2011.
In spite of the lack of resemblance between today's date and the first of April, today is the anniversary of the Great Moon Hoax of 1835. Animals, trees, oceans, beaches -- you would certainly need "an immense telescope of an entirely new principle". Other than that, sounds totally plausible to me!
In spite of the lack of resemblance between today's date and the first of April, today is the anniversary of the Great Moon Hoax of 1835. Animals, trees, oceans, beaches -- you would certainly need "an immense telescope of an entirely new principle". Other than that, sounds totally plausible to me!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
August 24, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of one of the world's great operating systems. On this date in 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95. At the time, Linux was still in its infancy. Mac users were still on System 7. Looking back, Windows 95 seems a bit primitive, but it was such an enormous improvement over Windows 3.1, I consider it a huge success!
Today is the anniversary of one of the world's great operating systems. On this date in 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95. At the time, Linux was still in its infancy. Mac users were still on System 7. Looking back, Windows 95 seems a bit primitive, but it was such an enormous improvement over Windows 3.1, I consider it a huge success!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
August 23, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
This is the anniversary of the patent on the tire chain in 1904. I mention this merely for the irony of a new technology that doesn't get much use anymore -- kind of reminds me of LP records and personal computers.
Monday, August 22, 2011
August 22, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Monday, August 22, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the first experimental television broadcast by the BBC in 1932. It seems to have caught on somewhat.
Today is the anniversary of the first experimental television broadcast by the BBC in 1932. It seems to have caught on somewhat.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August 21, 2011
Good morning! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Sunday, August 21, 2011.
It was on this date in 1888 that the adding machine was patented by William Burroughs. You've come a long way, baby! I'm pretty sure my Droid 2 has at least two calculators installed on it!
It was on this date in 1888 that the adding machine was patented by William Burroughs. You've come a long way, baby! I'm pretty sure my Droid 2 has at least two calculators installed on it!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
August 20, 2011
Welcome! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Saturday, August 20, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the first publication of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. The theory was published in 1858 in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London.
Today is the anniversary of the first publication of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. The theory was published in 1858 in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London.
Friday, August 19, 2011
August 19, 2011
TGIF! And welcome to The Nerd's Almanac for Friday, August 19, 2011.
It was not on this date that the photographic process of daguerreotype was invented. But it was on this date in 1839 that the government of France announced the invention as a gift "free to the world". Since a patent was also filed in England, there must have been some interesting issues. My, what modern times they were living in back then!
It was not on this date that the photographic process of daguerreotype was invented. But it was on this date in 1839 that the government of France announced the invention as a gift "free to the world". Since a patent was also filed in England, there must have been some interesting issues. My, what modern times they were living in back then!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
August 17, 2011
This is The Nerd's Almanac for Wednesday, August 17, 2011.
It's the anniversary of the 1970 launch of Venera 7 by the Soviet Union. It landed on Venus and was the first spacecraft to communicate with Earth from another planet.
It's the anniversary of the 1970 launch of Venera 7 by the Soviet Union. It landed on Venus and was the first spacecraft to communicate with Earth from another planet.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
August 16, 2011
Here it is, The Nerd's Almanac for Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
Were there nerds back in 1858? If so, they couldn't get enough news about the transatlantic telegraph... unfortunately, they tried to crank up the bandwidth and broke it -- I think that's nearly the truth!
Were there nerds back in 1858? If so, they couldn't get enough news about the transatlantic telegraph... unfortunately, they tried to crank up the bandwidth and broke it -- I think that's nearly the truth!
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 15, 2011
Welcome back!
It's The Nerd's Almanac for Monday, August 15, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the opening in 1914 of the Panama Canal, a miraculous engineering marvel that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
It's The Nerd's Almanac for Monday, August 15, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the opening in 1914 of the Panama Canal, a miraculous engineering marvel that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
August 14, 2011
Welcome to The Nerd's Almanac for Sunday, August 14, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the organization of the Oregon Territory on this date in 1848. This is quite important, as the town of Eureka is located in Oregon. And how sad that SyFy have decided to cancel that show after next year's season of episodes.
Today is the anniversary of the organization of the Oregon Territory on this date in 1848. This is quite important, as the town of Eureka is located in Oregon. And how sad that SyFy have decided to cancel that show after next year's season of episodes.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
August 13, 2011
Hey there! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Saturday, August 13, 2011.
It's a slow day here at the Almanac. Not really any nerdy events on this day in history.
It's a slow day here at the Almanac. Not really any nerdy events on this day in history.
Friday, August 12, 2011
August 12, 2011
Well hello there! It's The Nerd's Almanac for Friday, August 12, 2011.
It's the peak of the Perseids meteor shower, so put down that gadget and get outside! Oh what, you've got Google Sky Map? Well fine, then. Grab your gadget and get outside!
It's the peak of the Perseids meteor shower, so put down that gadget and get outside! Oh what, you've got Google Sky Map? Well fine, then. Grab your gadget and get outside!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
August 11, 2011
Welcome back! It's the Nerd's Almanac for Thursday, August 11, 2011.
Today is the anniversary of the mythical date of creation, according to the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Apparently it all started on August 11, 3114 BCE. That's just plain wrong, of course. We all know that the universe was created on January 1, 1970 -- precisely 1,313,020,800 seconds ago. If the universe were 5125 years old, we'd need at least 64 bits to hold a timestamp!
Today is the anniversary of the mythical date of creation, according to the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Apparently it all started on August 11, 3114 BCE. That's just plain wrong, of course. We all know that the universe was created on January 1, 1970 -- precisely 1,313,020,800 seconds ago. If the universe were 5125 years old, we'd need at least 64 bits to hold a timestamp!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
August 10, 2011
Welcome back! It's the Nerd's Almanac for Wednesday, August 10, 2011.
It was on this date in 1776 that news of the Declaration of Independence reached London. This may not strike you as nerd history but I mention it for sake of comparison with the milliseconds it must take for news to get from Philadelphia to London these days.
It was on this date in 1776 that news of the Declaration of Independence reached London. This may not strike you as nerd history but I mention it for sake of comparison with the milliseconds it must take for news to get from Philadelphia to London these days.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
August 9, 2011
Welcome! It's the Nerd's Almanac for Tuesday, August 9, 2011.
On this date in 1892, Thomas Edison received a patent for a two-way telegraph. That seems pretty high-tech to me!
On this date in 1892, Thomas Edison received a patent for a two-way telegraph. That seems pretty high-tech to me!
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