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

The famous 'Titanic' experiment of 1912 proved conclusively that a water-tight door will not work unless it is properly closed.

Space travel would not have been possible without previous experience of diving bells, submarines, water-tight doors or pressurised diving suits. These assorted devices have a long history of development beginning as early as the age of Classic empires (Egypt, Greece) and include wooden rowing submarines from 17th century Britain and 18th century America. The modern pressurised diving suit was 'new' when Jules Verne wrote '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'.


~jwf~

Leibniz was Scottish??

Was it not Hero of Alexandria who came up with the steam engine. It was not thought of as a source of locomotion though, just a toy.

A TV reconstruction based on original drawings resulted in a very 'toylike' demonstration of it in action. I noted that the base on it which was fixed to turn seemed to suggest the original designer had anticipated a great deal of torque and propulsion. The base was heavy, including a fire box and boiler and supported a sturdy axle on which the ball rotated.

The point being that he knew it would move, and that it might move a considerable weight in some unknown direction. The man was just two rails short of inventing the railways.


~jwf~

>> that greek bloke (heroditus comes to mind...) <<

Yeah I think that's the guy. Like a lotta Greeks he lived in Alexandria. Did a lot of fancy widgets for the temples. Weeping
statuary with hidden hydraulics, some steam powered animatronics
and acoustic illusions. There was another guy, usually better remembered for his philosophical writings, who was also pretty handy at war machines - like balls of fire and underwater spikes.

It's wonderful not being allowed to use Wiki and having to rely on memories and the intensity of previously absorbed info. TV is still not a great teacher. It doesn't leave you on edge waiting for it to ask you a direct question or throw a pop quiz. So everybody's selected memories are totally subjective.

~jwf~

Yes, still off topic here but he invented a hell of a lot of things, as I recall these included prommagable automata (with weights, rollers and strings) and a coin operated water dispenser. (might be mixing him up with someone else, but I don't think so.)

He could have invented the railway with a bit more work as there is evidence for track ways in ancient Etrusca which show the railway principle, just as it seems Steam railways developed from track ways in Britain.

That should say programmable BFW.

They also invented Miracles, like temple doors that open magically by themselves when the priest wants them to, nothing at all to do with a complex hydraulic system hpowered by the sacrificial fires, of course

Someone invented the leftie-proof door and fitted one at the entrance of my house. I cannot open it when I hold the key in me left hand, but have no problem whatsoever when I hold it in the right one

Is your left hand door a right hand door when you go out

I can see this thread ending with more than the Blues Brothers!

Talking of which, I'll risk saying Ray Ban leading to tinted visors for the astronauts' helmets.

Van

When I go out I don't need a key. (It's a block of flats rather than 'my house', so no one locks the outer door.)

Helloooo?.....GT?....Anyone?.....

*Distant sound of whistling wind*

" "calculus, for which you can blame Isaac Newton, would be essential for plotting the course."
Calculus, or Differentiation, which was invented by some Scottish bloke at the same time."

Turns out I was talking cobblers, it was Logarithms, not Differentiation. By John Napier.

What? It's been a long time since I did maths at school.

You were right about the fact that someone else did come up with differential calculus at the same time as Newton though, which I'd forgotten till you mentioned it, and then I remembered Leibniz.
Also a long time since school for me. I think the only thing I could hope to do with differentiation now is to spell it correctly.

Oi, gandalfstwin!

So where's that got to?

Hope the crows didn't get him.
Or the Zombie Apocalypso.

Oi! I got four klaxons coming and I wanna seem them flashing, sharpish.


~jwf~

Sorry folks!!

Lost the thread (notes) here...

Be with you shortly!!




GT

Reconstruction complete!!!

(I had had a few when I put it on, I am sure that these items were what I meant)


The first began life with Oersted's study of magnetics, and electromagnetism.

(Think navigation)


The second starts life with Napoleon's need for preserved foods to feed his troops.

(Think hot and cold)


The third starts life as an Emperors amusement in the East!



Carry on, chaps.
I will see where we stand so far.....




GT

Just gone through the backlog!

Many of you are on the right track for just one of the items!

To be fair though, no klaxons to date!!!



GT

Well that really got the ball rolling didn't it?

Wild guesses. Electromagnetism: Did they use the earth's magnetic field in some way for navigation?

Food preservation: Airtight seals? Did Napoleon invent the tin can?

Eastern emperor: Is this the fireworks thing?