h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ben Elton's drama class in uni must have been fun

it also included Rik Mayll and Adrian Edmonton (sp?)

BigAl, I've added a couple of sentences on Rutherford discovering the structure of the atom, but I'd rather not go into too much detail, it's not really the place of this entry

'I've added a couple of sentences on Rutherford discovering the structure of the atom, but I'd rather not go into too much detail, it's not really the place of this entry'.

No, I agree. But you need to say a littole bit about him so that you don't just end up with a boringf list of (meaningless) names.


This is what you've got:

'scientist. One of Britain's most famous scientists, Rutherford proved the 'solar system' structure5 was correct, rather than the previously- thought 'raisin pudding' structure and has had a chemical element named after him and the largest physics lecture theatre in the University, amongst many other honours'

Well, not only is he one of BRITAIN's greatest scientists, he was perhaps the greatest experimental physicists of all time - in the WORLD!!. As I said in my earlier post, he was one of the scientific luminaries of the 20th Century.

Furthermore, de didn't 'prove' the solar system model - he devised it. This was in fact his greatest discovery - showing that the atom is mostly just empty space.I I think you should include this sort of info rather than the fact that he has a chemical element named after him, and that the largest L/T on campus is named after him.

...also, please could you link it to my Entry on Atomic Structure at A6672963.

I'd found that entry on a search and added it before you mentioned it. Quite a nice coincidence

Is the new wording better BigAl?

I would prefer something like,


Ernest Rutherford: Scientist. One of the worlds greatest experimental scientists, he revolutionised chemistry and physics when, along with Niels Bohr, he proposed the 'solar system' model of the atom, thus showing that the atom consists mostly of empty space. Amongst his many honours he was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize for chemistry, was President of the Royal Society of GB, has had a chemical element (rutherfordium) named after him and the largest physics lecture theatre on the University campus is named after him.

(Notice capitalisation of the 'S' in Scientist)

Just thought, your list of alumni include those from the former Victoria Uni. and UMIST. I think you need to make this clear. e.g. s'thing like:

'There are so many famous graduates from the University of Manchester...' >

There are so many famous graduates from the former Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST...

Another one I've thought of who really shouldn't be missed is John Dalton (chemist)(UMIST). He introduced the atomic theory on which the whole of modern chemistry is based, and was the first to determine the relative masses of atoms experimentally.

band wise ...

Van Der Draaf Generator
Chemical Brothers

plus Ed O'Brien from Radiohead and Jon Stewart from Sleeper


Olivia Haniwell who currently starts in Channel 4's Sugar Rush graduated from Man Uni in 2006

This is kinda highlighting a problem I faced in choosing alumni - there are literally scores of famous UoM alumni, an entire entry could be done on just this topic. I don't want to go adding more, I think there are enough there now. I'll add a link to the UoM website famous alumni section and leave it at that

Hmm, I hadn't thought of this before, but are bands such as VdGG and Chemical Bros so named due to the illustrious scientific history of thei Uni?

Chemical Brothers (I think they studied something like medieval history at Manchester Uni) were originally the Dust Brothers - but there was already a band (in the US) of that name, who got a bit enthusiastic with lawyers .

'Chemical' came from 'Chemical Beats' a track off an EP (14th century sky? ) they did.

Right Honest I, a Scout in their wisdom has recommended this entry for the Edited Guide. So now I'm just checking in to see if you're happy for me to pull that big shiny brass 'accept' lever, or if you need more time.

I'm very happy for it to be picked, I think I've done everything that needs doing

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done HonestIago!

Well Done!

Hi Honestiago,

I've been given your wonderful entry to subedit, and the result is at A13728800. If you spot anything that needs attention, please drop me a note.

SchrEck Inc.

Only just spotted this message, just looked through and it looks great. Thanks for the extra links you've put in.

Iago