#11 - "Gearing Up"

#12 was sanitation systems! Well done, Peyton, Joani, Michelle, Elaine, Milt, and Mike!

"Gearing Up"

Another recent grab from Slater's Mill was this set of gears that helped to run the elaborate cotong threading machines. The docent was pretty sure that any machine designs that were brought over from England had to be memorized in detail as it was illegal to have hard copies of them! These devices were made up of thousand of pieces! 


Greatest Inventions of All Time!
Recently I came across an article about the greatest inventions as determined by a large group of scientists, philosophers, educators, and other professions. Their task was to create a list of "the Greatest Inventions of All Time." Conveniently, the final list numbered fifty! so, I'm starting with #50 and working my way down to Numero Uno in December.

Fear not as I will offer you some hints as to what the invention was.

#11

#11 is essential for some forms of life because inorganic nitrogen compounds are required for the biosynthesis of the basic building blocks of plants, animals and other life forms, e.g., nucleotides for DNA and RNA, and amino acids for proteins. Therefore, as part of the nitrogen cycle, it is essential for agriculture and the manufacture of fertilizer. 

It is also, indirectly, relevant to the manufacture of all chemical compounds that contain nitrogen, which includes explosives, most pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This process is carried out naturally in the soil by a wide range of nitrogen fixing bacteria.

The German chemist Fritz Haber, also the father of chemical weapons, won a Nobel Prize for his development of the ammonia-synthesis process, which was used to create a new class of fertilizers central to the green revolution (No. 22).

I realize these clues are not very helpful so if you still need help, go to the bottom of this week's blog for multiple choices. . . 

Murphy's Laws

Lowrey's Law. . .

If it jams -- force it. 

If it breaks, 

it needed replacing anyway.

Leaving You with a Laugh, I Hope. . .

Possible Answers:

A. Nitrogen Fixation B. Nitrogen Fixation

                    C. Nitrogen Fixation D. Nitrogen Fixation