History Schmistory: November 8. Rays of Hope.
Friday, November 8, 2024
1895: Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the X-Ray almost completely by accident. And that’s when the fun began!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Historical_X-ray_nci-vol-1893-300.jpg
History Schmistory: October 13. Speaking of Galaxies…
Sunday, October 13, 2024
1773: The Whirlpool Galaxy is discovered by Charles Messier (‘s awesome telescopes.)
![By NASA and European Space Agency [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/800px-Messier51_sRGB.jpg)
By NASA and European Space Agency [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: October 10. What about Spaceland Security?
Thursday, October 10, 2024
1967: The Outer Space Treaty, signed by over sixty nations including the US, the UK and the Soviet Union, becomes official. It serves as a binding promise to keep space open for everyone to explore, and to not use it to store and/or fire weapons of mass destruction. Many feel the agreement only makes it easier for outside forces to take advantage of the opportunity.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Astronaut-EVA.jpg
History Schmistory: August 19. To go where no man would dare go before…
Monday, August 19, 2024
1960 – Sputnik Program: Sputnik 5  – the Soviet Union launches a satellite with 2 dogs, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. The first animals to be launched into orbit and return safely. Not to take anything away from the first animals ever in space, fruit flies. Seriously. They did so well we sent them back a few years ago. Poor little guys…
![By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-Female_Mexican_fruit_fly_insect.jpg)
By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
-We should give a shout to Laika, the original space dog, who unfortunately didn’t make it back. RIP widdle buddy!
![Laika Monument By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Laika_ac_Laika_6982605741.jpg)
Laika Monument
By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: July 29. The Final Frontier…
Monday, July 29, 2024
1958: President Dwight D. Eisenhower eagerly signs a federal statute that creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
![To infinity and beyond! By Bill Ingalls [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/800px-STS-135_begins_takeoff.jpg)
To infinity and beyond!
By Bill Ingalls [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Sadly, they were never able to get him back to his home planet.
History Schmistory, July 17: Starry Eyed Harvard!
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
1850 – The Harvard Observatory took the 1st photograph of a star (Vega). Vega is argued to be the next most important star in the sky after the Sun. Needless to say, it is a “bright spot” in history for astronomers!
What happens on Vega, didn’t stay on vega!
History Schmistory, July 11: Pons Comet Pun
Thursday, July 11, 2024
1801 – French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons discovered his 1st comet. He then went on to discover 36 more. Jeez louise!
I see one…two….three…four….
History Schmistory, June 28: The Tomato Playing Ketch-up!
Friday, June 28, 2024
1820Â –Â The tomato was proven to be non-poisonous. Thank goodness for that…our most important foods (pizza, spaghetti, burgers) would never have been the same!
Way to go tomatoes!
“Jumping tomato” by Gabi Greve /CC BY
History Schmistory, June 21: Sun, You’re In Trouble!
Friday, June 21, 2024
1633 – Galileo Galilei was forced by Inquisition to “abjure, curse, & detest” his Copernican heliocentric views (the view that the  planets revolve around the sun). I guess some people couldn’t handle the thought of not being in the spot light! However, Galileo can now relax & galiLAY out to enjoy the sun, which we now know, is the real star of the show!
Look who gets to say “I told you so!”
A Name You Should Know: Bill Lear
Friday, September 30, 2022
Most people who do know the name, credit him as the developer of the luxury aircraft, the Learjet, but there are plenty of even better reasons to sing the praises of Bill Lear. Anyone who listens to music in their vehicles must give him credit for inventing the first car radio and then the eight-track tape player. Not enough for you? OK, then, he also basically invented radio navigation AND autopilot technology. On top of that he even had a great sense of humor. He named his daughter Shanda… Shanda Lear…Â brilliant!!
