Science in the News (please post articles of general interest here)

[Probeman]

The origin of multi-layer x-ray diffractors is discussed in this recent Veritasium video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUHjLxm3V0

I was lucky enough to work with Jim Underwood (mentioned in the video) after he moved to LBL and I was starting on the ARL microprobe trying to improve detection of N Ka for Tony Tomsia using custom NiCr/BN multilayers back in the 1990s which he manufactured for me.

On a JEOL instrument N Ka corresponds to a spectrometer position of ~138mm  with this diffractor:

n  ka on NiCrBN (2d=65 A) (Spc=140 mm), is 138.3364 (with refractive index correction, k= 0.016)

Note that the latest CalcZAF now includes the 2d spacing for this calculation output, which is nice for multi-layer diffractors since they can be manufactured in a range of different 2ds.

[John Donovan]

Here's something I had not known: the words "data" and "dowry" have a common origin!

The words data and dowry are related through a common Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root meaning "to give," though they evolved through different paths.

    Dowry (Etymology): The word stems from the Latin dos (meaning "marriage portion,"genitive dotis), which came from the PIE root *do- ("to give"). It refers to the property or money a woman brings to her husband in marriage, representing a gift or endowment.

    Data (Etymology): This word also traces back to the same PIE root *do- ("to give"). It is the plural of the Latin word datum, which translates literally to "[that which is] given".

    Connection: Both words share the foundational idea of a "gift" or something that is transferred or "given" (a marriage portion in the case of dowry, or information in the case of data).

See more on the origin of words used in tech and sci-fi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZwAuQ6X0c

One of my favorite YouTube channels (maybe because I took Latin in high school?)!

[Probeman]

Another fun episode of "Words Unraveled" on the etomology (word origin) of the elements in the periodic table:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfP8sTYJwo

[Probeman]

I really enjoyed this book on the history of electromagnetic fields:

https://www.amazon.com/Faraday-Maxwell-Electromagnetic-Field-Revolutionized/dp/1633886077

"The story of two brilliant nineteenth-century scientists who discovered the electromagnetic field, laying the groundwork for the amazing technological and theoretical breakthroughs of the twentieth centuryTwo of the boldest and most creative scientists of all time were Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879)."