Week 11 Flashcards
What major discovery did Dmitri Ivanovsky make in 1892?
Discovery of viruses
This changed the understanding of diseases.
Who discovered X-rays and in what year?
Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen in 1896
His application to medicine revolutionized treatments.
What did Louis Pasteur’s work lead to regarding disease?
Universal acceptance of germ theory of disease
Cemented vaccine as an efficient method of immunization.
What significant contribution did Albert Einstein make in 1905?
Special Relativity
This concept transformed physics.
What was the role of professional associations in the professionalization of science?
Support for research institutes, schools, and laboratories
They facilitated collaboration among scientists.
What was the purpose of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts?
To promote liberal and practical education in agriculture and the mechanic arts
Aimed at educating industrial classes.
What change occurred in the social function of universities after the Civil War?
Shifted from repository of science to critical thinking
Combined teaching and research.
What characterized the rise of ‘Big Science’ during and after WWII?
Collaboration of governments, private labs, universities, and corporations
Led to significant scientific breakthroughs.
What chemical weapons were notably used during WWI?
Chlorine and Tear Gas
First effective use at Ypres in 1915.
What was the 1918 Flu Pandemic commonly known as?
Spanish flu
Infected 500 million individuals.
Where was the British Government Code and Cypher School located during WWII?
Bletchley Park
Key site for codebreaking efforts.
What was Colossus developed for?
High-speed automated decryption
Used in codebreaking from 1943-45.
What device did Alan Turing use to decipher the Enigma Code?
An electro-mechanical device called ‘the Bomb’
This was part of early codebreaking efforts.
What was the M-9 Gun Director’s purpose during WWII?
To speed up calculations for anti-aircraft targeting
Combined computing and radar for accuracy.
What was ENIAC and when was it completed?
The first general-purpose electronic digital computer, completed in 1945
Used for calculating artillery firing tables.
True or False: The 1918 Flu Pandemic spread due to soldiers’ movement after the armistice.
True
This significantly contributed to its global spread.
Fill in the blank: The rise of __________ during WWII involved large laboratories and funding.
Big Science
This era marked a shift in scientific research collaboration.
Who were John von Neumann and Robert Oppenheimer in relation to WWII?
Key figures in the development of computing and the atomic bomb
Their contributions were crucial to military technology.
What were some key scientific discoveries in the late 19th century that influenced the professionalization of science?
Key discoveries include Dmitri Ivanovsky’s discovery of viruses (1892), Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays (1896), Louis Pasteur’s work on germ theory and vaccines, Marie Curie’s work on radioactivity, and Albert Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity (1905).
How did government support impact the professionalization of science in the 19th and early 20th centuries?
Governments began funding research institutes, schools, and laboratories. The establishment of Red Brick Universities in the UK and Land-Grant Universities in the US further expanded educational opportunities. Additionally, the rise of international conferences and professional associations helped to organize and professionalize science.
What is ‘Big Science’ and how did it develop during WWII?
‘Big Science’ refers to large-scale scientific research involving large teams, significant funding, and collaboration between governments, universities, and private corporations. It emerged during WWII with advancements like the Manhattan Project, the development of computers for codebreaking, and the development of the atomic bomb.
What was the significance of chemical warfare in WWI?
Chemical warfare became a key feature of WWI, with the use of chlorine and tear gas in battles like the one at Ypres in 1915. This led to the development of defensive equipment such as gas masks and the formation of institutions like the Chemical Warfare Service in the U.S.
What was the 1918 flu pandemic, and how did it spread?
The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, infected about 500 million people worldwide. It spread rapidly due to soldiers’ movement after WWI’s armistice, contributing to widespread devastation.
What was Colossus, and how did it contribute to WWII?
Colossus was the first programmable digital computer developed at Bletchley Park in the UK to break encrypted German messages. It played a key role in codebreaking efforts during WWII.
What was the role of Alan Turing in WWII codebreaking?
Alan Turing, with his team, used an electro-mechanical device called the Bomb to decipher the Enigma code, which was used by the Germans to encrypt their communications.
What was the M-9 Gun Director, and why was it significant in WWII?
The M-9 Gun Director was a military computing machine developed by Bell Labs during WWII. It combined computing and radar to improve anti-aircraft targeting, playing a critical role in shooting down German V-1 cruise missiles.
How did computers contribute to the development of the atomic bomb?
Computers, particularly ENIAC, were used to perform complex calculations necessary for developing the atomic bomb. Key figures like John von Neumann and Robert Oppenheimer played major roles in utilizing computing for nuclear weapons development.
What was the significance of ENIAC after WWII?
ENIAC, completed in 1945, was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. It was used for artillery calculations and is considered a significant milestone in the development of computing technology.
