#classickit — Public Fediverse posts

It is the end of the Age of #Mercury in our Department. To celebrate this, I give you the story of how John T Way (the "father of soil science") built a mercury light so brilliant that he sailed with it across the Solent, in the darkness, hoping to catch the eye of the Prince Albert. As he did so, he conducted the first mass demonstration of #fluorescence, causing all the #mauve ribbons on the ladies' dresses and bonnets to light up in the darkness. #ClassicKit

https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/ways-electric-light-and-flashes-of-brilliance/4021523.article

I should be marking or writing an op-ed. But instead I'm deep down a #ClassicKit rabbit hole about glass formulations in the early 20th century. It's been something I've poked about trying to figure out a few times. And suddenly the whole thing has begun to unfold. Tomorrow we mark. #mañana Always #mañana