discoveries in science

In 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids, including the Madagascar star orchid. It had an 11.5 inch nectary, the place where flowers make the nectar that insects and birds eat. He determined that the only way this flower was pollinated was by a giant moth with an 11.5 inch proboscis. A moth with a long proboscis was cataloged on Madagascar in 1903, but it took almost ninety years to prove Darwin's theory. Includes information on the Madagascar hawk moth, the Madagascar star orchid, and pollination.

Chronicles the lives and work of Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering, who developed a vaccine for whooping cough. Discusses the dangers of whooping cough, the scientists' education and work, and how the vaccine was developed. Includes photos, a timeline, glossary, index, and resources for further information.

"How long does it take for science to find an answer to a problem? On January 25, 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids. One flower, the Madagascar star orchid, fascinated him. It had an 11.5" nectary, the place where flowers make nectar, the sweet liquid that insects and birds eat. How, he wondered, did insects pollinate the orchid? It took 130 years to find the answer. After experiments, he made a prediction. There must be a giant moth with a 11.5" proboscis, a straw-like tongue. Darwin died without ever seeing the moth, which was catalogued by entomologists in 1903. But still no one had actually observed the moth pollinating the orchid. In 1992, German entomologist, Lutz Thilo Wasserthal, Ph.D. traveled to Madagascar. By then, the moths were rare. He managed to capture two moths and released them in a cage with the orchid. He captured the first photo of the moth pollinating the flower, as Darwin had predicted 130 years before"--Provided by the publisher.

Describes scientific discoveries and inventions throughout history and discusses how they have changed the way people live.

Describes Benjamin Franklin's experiments with electricity and what he learned from them.

Explores the latter half of the Scientific Revolution, looking at how Europe emerged from church domination to accept scientific truth and introducing some of the pioneers of science.

Describes scientific discoveries and inventions throughout history and discusses how they have changed the way people live.

Traces the history of the Scientific Revolution, discussing the factors that gave rise to scientific discovery, examining advances in various areas of science, and introducing some of the pioneers of the field.

Tells the life story of chemist Marie Curie, discussing her childhood, family life, education, and achievements, including her joint Nobel Prize for physics with her husband in 1903 and a Nobel Prize for chemistry.