http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=1373
14 Sep 2006
The complete archive of the Royal Society journals, including some of
the most significant scientific papers ever published since 1665, is to
be made freely available electronically for the first time today (14th
September 2006) for a two month period.
The archive contains seminal research papers including accounts of
Michael Faraday's groundbreaking series of electrical experiments, Isaac
Newton's invention of the reflecting telescope, and the first research
paper published by Stephen Hawking.
The Society's online collection, which until now only extended back to
1997, contains every paper published in the Royal Society journals from
the first ever peer-reviewed scientific journal, Philosophical
Transactions in 1665, to the most recent addition, Interface.
Professor Martin Taylor, Vice President of the Royal Society and Chair
of the Publishing Board, said: "The Royal Society archive is a unique
source of information for practicing scientists, science historians and
indeed anyone with an in interest history. The rich, varied and
sometimes entertaining archive documents the earliest accounts of the
seventeenth centurys new experimental philosophy', through which an
understanding of the natural world was acquired by experiment and
observation. This provided the foundation of the modern scientific
method."
The archive provides a record of some key scientific discoveries in the
last 340 years, including Halley's description of his comet' in 1705,
details of the double helix of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in
1954 and Edmond Stone's breakthrough in 1763 that willow bark cured
fevers, leading to the discovery of salicylic acid and later the
development of aspirin.
Some of the more obscure papers explore rudimentary prototypes of modern
day technology. Trials proposed by Robert Boyle in 1665 hypothesize on
the possibilities of blood transfusions, pondering "Whether a fierce dog
stocked with the blood of a cowardly dog may not become more tame?". A
forerunner for ventilators was also discussed in a paper by Robert Hooke
in 1667 entitled "An account of an experiment made by Mr. Hook [sic], of
preserving animals alive by blowing through their lungs with bellows".
The archive also contains more amusing experiments and observations such
as the use of electrical conductors to cure muscle stiffness and a
bizarre description of a "Very Odd Monstrous Calf" which illustrate the
inquisitive nature of science's early pioneers.
Professor Taylor added: "In addition to being a valuable scientific
resource, the journal archives are also a rich historical record
documenting a time which is hard to imagine given the knowledge we have
today."
The electronic archive contains papers documenting the discovery of new
planets, the first descriptions of organisms through a microscope, and
the first account of photography. Early journal papers contain
fascinating descriptions of how Captain James Cook preserved the health
of his crew aboard the HMS Endeavour and the astonishment of 18th
century Society by the performance of a eight year-old Mozart.
The archive will be freely available online until December 2006 and,
following this period, will be available as part of Royal Society
journal subscription packages or alternatively on a-pay per-view basis.
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Paul Brown in Australia 06/2006 to 09/2006
mailto:[log in to unmask] http://www.paul-brown.com
AU mob +61 419 72 74 85 USA fax +1 309 216 9900
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Visiting Professor - Sussex University
http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/ccnr/research/creativity.html
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