Chemical analysis and composition

Chemical analysis and composition

—How practical methods and interpretations of composition evolved in eighteenth-century chemical analysis.—   Composition is a central aspect of modern chemistry. Various substances are identified by some aspect of their elementary composition,...
The evolution of innovation

The evolution of innovation

—How Ancient Greek technology has shaped modern engineering and the current relevance of harmony and moderation.—   Ancient Greek technology represents one of the earliest examples of human ingenuity, laying the groundwork for numerous advancements in...
Neurasthenia: the disease of the century

Neurasthenia: the disease of the century

—Nerves, gender and modernity at the end of the 19th century.—   In 1869, the New York neurologist George Miller Beard (1839–1883) described a new disease before the American Medical Association: neurasthenia, or nervous exhaustion, which in it’s...
The taste of a century

The taste of a century

—The naturalization of synthetic vanillin from 1874 until 1959.—   Is it possible to describe a particular flavor as the taste of a century? The variety of culinary landscapes suggests that it might be difficult to claim such a dominance for only one...
Using the Senses in Science

Using the Senses in Science

—The role of sight, taste, smell, and touch in early modern chemistry.—   Understanding the role of the senses in the history of science poses unique challenges for the historian. Most sensory impressions are part of our daily experiences. Often,...
Contemporary science

Contemporary science

—The transformation of the regime of knowledge production, and history as a tool to reflect on the present and future of science.—   The history of science is a relatively young branch of historiography, but with a wide and varied tradition, as seen...