Science History Institute

11/20/2024

Parasites can force animals to do nefarious things by manipulating their minds—including, uncomfortably, the minds of human beings.

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi horror movie—689 cats taking over a house, their owners obsessed with adding more felines to the ranks and keeping them fed and sheltered at any cost. But this seemingly fictional story actually happened. And the theories about why introduced an interesting culprit: a microbe so ruthless it would put Machiavelli to shame.

🐈 Listen to the latest episode of The Disappearing Spoon podcast with Sam Kean by clicking the link below ⬇️

Parasites can force animals to do nefarious things by manipulating their minds—including, uncomfortably, the minds of human beings.

11/12/2024

🎉 The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry at The Science History Institute is pleased to announce its fellowship opportunities for researchers passionate about the fascinating stories that have shaped the fields of science. If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply and join a vibrant community of scholars committed to advancing their research with the help of our library and digital collections. ⁠
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The Beckman Center offers a variety of fellowships and travel grants. Applications for fellowships open each fall with a due date of January 15, 2025. Travel grant applications are accepted year-round.⁠
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Tap the link below for more information or contact [email protected].

The Institute is home to the largest private fellowship program in the historical study of science, medicine, and technology in the United States.

10/31/2024

It’s finally Halloween and we’re bugging out! 🐜

From creepy crawlies to hair-raising arachnids, our latest blog post reveals the most fascinating bugs hiding in the corners of our digital collections!

Written by Dana Rodriguez, our senior communications manager (and the mother of Spider-Man’s biggest fan!), this blog post explores our collection of insect engravings including the origins of Micrographia, the first book to depict microscopic insects, which is also featured in our digital collections.

Can you think of a better way to spend this spooky holiday than by taking an up-close and personal look at some of nature’s most underrated creatures?

🕷️ Tap the link below to read now! ⬇️

How the creepy crawlies in our collections turned my “Eww” into “Wow!”

10/22/2024

🔔 The results are in! 🔔⁠
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The winner of the School Lunch Bracket is......⁠
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RECTANGLE PIZZA FRIDAYS! 🍕⁠
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Are we surprised??⁠
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Thank you to everyone who voted in the School Lunch Bracket by selecting your favorite lunches! It was great to see how passionate you were about school lunches past, present, and future! ⁠
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To take a deeper dive into the history of your favorite foods and to learn about the evolution of the school lunch program in Philadelphia, visit our latest exhibition, Lunchtime: The History of Science on the School Food Tray. We're open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm.⁠

Visit sciencehistory.org/lunchtime to learn more!

10/22/2024

10/15/2024

Alright everyone, the results from the 1st round of our School Lunch Bracket are now in! 🔔🔔🔔⁠
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Looks like we have:⁠
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Rectangle Pizza vs. Chicken Nuggets⁠
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Tater Tots vs. Hashbrowns⁠
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Burger vs. Philly Cheesesteak⁠
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Nachos in a Doritos Bag vs. Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Bar⁠
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Which one of your favorite foods will advance to the next round? You decide! You can submit your vote by visiting sciencehistory.org/bracket. Happy voting! 🍕🍔🍦

10/09/2024

*NEW SEASON OF THE DISAPPEARING SPOON*⁠
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How did a scientist who developed a Nobel Prize–worthy idea end up driving a shuttle van for a living and miss the award completely?⁠
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In the latest episode of The Disappearing Spoon with Sam Kean, we learn about the heartbreaking story of Douglas Prasher, a molecular biologist, who worked in genetics and biochemistry research and developed a Nobel Prize-worthy idea using green-fluorescent protein (GFP). ⁠
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But the tragedy that forced him to drop out of science and get shut out of winning the prestigious award was not from the script of a soap opera. Instead, it was something all too familiar that science hasn’t even begun to grapple with: how poverty affects the scientific labor market.⁠
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Tap the link below to listen now ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/disappearing-pod/the-sadder-side-of-the-nobel-prizes/

10/07/2024

Could a century-old aqueduct point the way to Los Angeles’s clean energy future?

In the early 20th century, when the city was facing a severe water shortage, the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct not only brought water from the Owens Valley but also provided a source of hydroelectric power that fueled the city’s growth.

While these historic plants, which supplied the majority of the city’s electricity needs in the early years, now make up a small portion of the city’s power grid, they are still maintained as “working museums” that preserve the history of the aqueduct’s development.

Learn more about how the aqueduct’s hydropower could inform Los Angeles’s efforts to transition to a carbon-free energy grid in our latest Distillations Magazine article “Water and Power” written by documentary photographer and filmmaker Brandon Tauszik, and Philadelphia-based freelance writer, Ben Seal.

Click the link below to read now ⬇️

Could a century-old aqueduct point the way to Los Angeles’s clean energy future?

10/03/2024

10/03/2024

Thank you, Chalkbeat Philadelphia, for this feature about our latest exhibition, Lunchtime: The History of Science on the School Food Tray! 🥪🍎

A Science History Institute exhibit on display through January highlights Philadelphia’s crucial role in popularizing school lunch and its role in American life

09/30/2024

Opening Celebration Attendees Give Institute’s New ‘Lunchtime’ Exhibition an A+ 🎉
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The Science History Institute welcomed a sold-out crowd to the opening of our new exhibition, Lunchtime: The History of Science on the School Food Tray, on view now through January 2026. Held on Friday, September 27, the lively celebration featured school lunch-themed food, drinks, and games, as well as a curator’s talk and partner meet-and-greets.⁠
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Institute president and CEO David Cole introduced the night’s speakers, which included Teresa Fleming, interim COO of the School District of Philadelphia; Valerie Gay, Creative Philadelphia’s chief cultural officer; and exhibition curator Jesse Smith, who presented a behind-the-scenes look at Lunchtime. ⁠
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Also on site were students from local food organization Rebel Ventures, creators of Rebel Crumbles, an apple-filled healthy cake served in schools throughout the city, and Chef Mike Haracz from Foodology by Univar Solutions, whose spin on the pudding cup was a huge hit.⁠
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We want to thank all of our partners, supporters, attendees, and staff for helping make this exhibition opening a success! ⁠
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Support for Lunchtime has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the Pennsylvania Trails of History, Foodology by Univar Solutions, Quaker Houghton and Fred and Elizabeth Weber.

The sold-out crowd explored the surprising history behind the school lunch with a themed food tasting, chalkboard memory wall, and curator’s talk.

09/16/2024

The Science History Institute is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine. This membership organization brings together leading cultural and educational institutions from across the globe. The five-year agreement, which allows staff and fellows to use the Institute’s offices, library, and conference room spaces, achieves the goal of keeping the Consortium in Philadelphia where it has been located for the last 15 years.

Read the full news post here:

Five-year agreement allows the collaborative membership organization to remain in Philadelphia.

09/16/2024

Chestnut Street, west from 3rd Street, circa 1885.

Notes: The area of Chestnut Street between 2nd Street and Independence Hall at 5th was often called Bankers' Row. Two famous buildings by architect Frank Furness are visible here: the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company, left, next to Christy's, and the National Bank of the Republic, right, next to the lamppost."

Notes: The street with businesses on both sides. Trolley tracks, carriages and horses in street; people, street lamps and telephone poles on sidewalk. Firms include: "Wm ... Christy's [&] Sons Bla[nk] Book Makers and Stationers" ; "Blank book makers" ; "Stationers" ; "Grattans Printing & Binding Rooms" ; "Blacksmith shop" ; "Thac ... ara's Oyster & Lunch Room, J.T. Harke ... Manager."

Image source: The Free Library of Philadelphia.

09/04/2024

An exhibition examines the history of the US School Lunch Program and studies the influences of science and technology on conversations about state welfare, food quality, and childhood health. The project considers contemporary issues like school lunch debt, nutrition, and the exacerbation of food i...

08/30/2024

Check out this Fox29 segment as our very own Caitlin Martin gives Meteorologist Drew Anderson a tour of the Science History Institute's Museum. 🧪🔬 Come visit us for FREE, every Wednesday-Saturday from 10 am-5 pm!

FOX 29 Meteorologist Drew Anderson spends time with Caitlin Martin of the Science History Institute, an interactive museum for kids of all ages, exploring the history of science.

08/14/2024

NEXT MONTH: Join us on 09/06 for First Friday: Science for All, as we celebrate diversity, accessibility, and the universal spirit of scientific exploration. Together, let’s envision a future where science truly belongs to everyone.⁠
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Our “Science for All” First Friday event will feature our new oral history-based Voices of Science audio tour centered on five boundary-breaking scientists, as well as handling collection activities that explore assistive technology in the laboratory (from braille-based chemical notation to new tactile deep-space images produced by the James Webb Space Telescope). ⁠
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We’ll also be showcasing our collection of handcrafted personal prosthetics made by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Morris A. Robbins (1916–2004), who designed and fabricated his own prosthetics before other versions were widely available.⁠
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PLUS - Meet with special guests from Philly Touch Tours, who will share expertise in making museum experiences accessible to individuals with vision impairment, or learn more about the Art-Reach “ACCESS” program, which helps make cultural experiences more affordable and inclusive.⁠
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Click the link below to learn more about this FREE event.

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Join us as we celebrate diversity, accessibility, and the universal spirit of scientific exploration.