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Latest Blog Posts
25
JanProof Master
On January 25, 1627, chemist, physicist, and inventor Robert Boyle was born in Ireland. He was one of the shakers and movers of the 17th century. It was helpful that he was moneyed and could pursue his interests as … Continue reading →
22
JanThe First International
Microgravity LaboratoryTwenty-eight years ago on January 22, 1992, STS-42 carried the first International Microgravity Laboratory [IML-1], dozens of experiments, and seven space shuttle crew members into orbit. Over 200 scientists from 13 countries contributed to the crew’s onboard research tasks in … Continue reading →
Author Archives: B Bondar
Baton Star
On September 11, 1847, American astronomer Mary Watson Whitney was born. She excelled in mathematics and nature studies. Whitney was one of Vassar’s first students in the college’s opening year and one of its first students in its new department … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged astronomy, Mary Watson Whitney, On This Day, September 11, The Roberta Bondar Foundation, Vassar College
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Major Motion
On September 9, 1953, Canadian military officer Major Deanna (Dee) Marie Brasseur was born. Brasseur and corps colleague Captain Jane Foster were the first two female fighter pilots in the Canadian Armed Forces. This also made them the first two … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged first woman fighter pilot, Major Deanna (Dee) Marie Brasseur, Major Dee Brasseur, On This Day, September 9, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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Learning the Sky Dance
On September 3, 1874, Norwegian mathematician and geophysicist Fredrik Carl Mülertz Størmer was born. Although he investigated several astrophysical phenomena during his lifetime such as meteor trails and solar corona, Størmer was particularly involved in the study of the polar … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged aurora, Aurora Borealis, Fredrik Carl Mülertz Størmer, Fredrik Carl Størmer, ionosphere, ions, On This Day, September 3, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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Docent of the Deep
On August 30, 1935, marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Alice Earle was born. She has spent four decades of undersea exploration and has led underwater research expeditions not only for oceanographic research societies but also for investigations into oil spill … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged August 30, Dr. Sylvia Earle, marine biologist, oceanographic research, On This Day, Sylvia Alice Earle, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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Endless Star Party
From August 22 through 25, 2019, it’s another week of night sights in the Wood Buffalo National Park Dark Sky Preserve at the Dark Sky Festival [DSF]. The park’s 44,807 km2 (17,300 mi2) sit on the border of Canada’s Northwest … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged August 29, Dark Sky Preserve, On This Day, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Roberta Bondar Foundation, Wood Buffalo National Park Dark Sky Preserve
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First Master of Microscopy
On July 28, 1635, microscopist, astronomer, architect, Robert Hooke was born. As a student, Hooke was at ease in his studies of art, languages, music, and mathematics. At Oxford, he met and entered into creative friendships with his professors and … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged English Father of Microscopy, July 28, Micrographia, Microscopy, On This Day, Robert Hooke, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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Molecule Mapper
On July 25, 1920, biophysicist, crystallographer, and pioneer molecular biologist Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born. She studied natural sciences at Newnham College, Cambridge. Pursuing graduate studies but wishing to contribute to a national effort, Franklin joined the British Coal Utilization … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged DNA, July 25, On This Day, poliovirus, RNA, Rosalind Elsie Franklin, Rosalind Franklin, The Roberta Bondar Foundation, virus, X-ray crystallography
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The First Ecologist
On July 18, 1720, English naturalist Gilbert White was born. A country cleric, White systematically recorded careful and detailed observations of all Nature in his surroundings. He experimented with different plants from flowers to potatoes to fruit trees in his … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged bird migration, ecology, first ecologist, Gilbert White, July 18, On This Day, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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Paleo-Mud
On July 16, 1981, Yoho National Park’s Burgess Shale became Canada’s fifth World Heritage Site of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Within Yoho National Park of Canada, the Burgess Shale holds the deposit of one … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged Burgess Shale, Cambrian era, fossils, July 16, marine fossils, On This Day, paleobiology, paleontology, prehistoric life, prehistory, The Roberta Bondar Foundation, UNESCO World Heritage site, World Heritage Site, Yoho National Park
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Rock Star
On July 14, 1862, geologist Florence Bascom was born. As a youngster, she accompanied her father and his university associates on field trips and was hooked on geology after an early trip to Mammoth Cave. Advancing through school and into … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day
Tagged Bryn Mawr Department of Geology, Department of Geology Bryn Mawr, Florence Bascom, geology, July 14, microscopic petrography, On This Day, petrology, The Roberta Bondar Foundation
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