180 Years of Scientific American: Tracking Science’s Boldest Shifts

Fast Summary

• scientific American Celebrates 180 Years: The iconic publication marks its milestone by highlighting pivotal scientific reversals over history.
• Highlighted Stories:

– Neural Regeneration: Earlier beliefs held nerve damage as irreversible; modern research confirms the regenerative capacity of neurons, even in the central nervous system.
– Plastic Invention: Initially created as a lasting substitute for ivory in billiard balls, plastics later became an environmental concern due to overproduction and pollution.
– Mars and Alien Life: A century-old belief in Martian civilizations based on optical illusions (Martian canals) has evolved into more grounded investigations into microbial alien life possibilities.

• Readers are invited to explore these insights in Scientific American’s anniversary print issue or online.

Image Caption: drawings from Mars observations, Lowell observatory (1907), showing supposed “canals” and polar ice caps.!Read More