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Weird Science – Ilya Ivanovich Ivano
Born around 1870 in the town of Shchigry, Kursk Gubernia, Russia. Graduating from Kharkov University in 1896 Ivano became a full professor in 1907. He worked as a researcher in the Askania-Nova Natural Reserve, also for the State Experimental Veterinary Institute for the Central Experimental Station for Researching Reproduction of Domestic Animals, and for the Moscow Higher Zootechnic Institute. Around the start of the 20th century, he would perfect the artificial insemination and practical usage for horse breeding. He proved that this technology allows one stallion to fertilize up to 500 mares. The results were sensational for their time, and Ivanov’s station was frequented by horse breeders from many parts…
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Émilie du Châtelet
There has been a subtle prejudice against intellect since time immemorial. This was never so true as it was for young women. A lady needed to only know how to smile, look pretty and keep a household. Anything further would make her a “bluestocking” and unattractive to men. Perish the thought! 18th century France was no exception as the nobility had a deep seated aversion to educating their daughters. However, from this unlikely source came one of the great mathematicians of the century. Gabrielle Émilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil was born December 17, 1706 in Paris to Louis Nicolas le Tonnelier de Breteuil, a high ranking official of the court…
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Mary Anning
She was an English fossil collector, dealer, and paleontologist who became known around the world for important finds she made in Jurassic marine fossil beds in the cliffs where she lived. Her findings would contribute to some of the most important changes to scientific thinking about prehistoric life and the history of the Earth. Mary was born on May 21,1799 in Lyme Regis in Dorset, England to Richard Anning and Mary (Molly) Moore Anning. Her father was a cabinet maker who supplemented his income by mining the coastal cliff-side fossil beds near the town, and selling his finds to tourists. She would search for fossils in the area’s Blue Lias…
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Frances Glessner Lee- Dioramas of Death
In previous posts, we have discussed how Chuck Norris (no not that Chuck Norris) helped bring the New York Coroner’s Department into the 20th century and is partially responsible for all the CSI shows we know and love (Please see posts here: http://www.historynaked.com/chuck-norris-prohibition/ and http://www.historynaked.com/loony-gas-building/ ) However, Dr. Norris was not the only pioneer in this area. Frances Glessner Lee was born in 1878 to a wealthy Chicago family and was educated as a well bred lady of that time. She was home schooled and lived in a beautiful home in Chicago called the Glessner House, that almost looks like a fortress and is a well known Chicago landmark. How…
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Quarantine
A quarantine is used to prevent diseases spreading to people or animals by isolating those infected. The word “quarantine” originates from the Venetian dialect form of the Italian quaranta giorni, meaning ‘forty days’. Between 1348 and 1359, the Black Death wiped out an estimated 30% of Europe’s population, and a significant percentage of Asia’s population. In order ro prevent the spread of the disease ships and people were isolated for 40-days before they could enter the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Original documents from 1377, which are kept in the Archives of Dubrovnik, state that before entering the city, newcomers had to spend 30 days (a trentine) in a restricted…
