They were even revered by the biggest, meanest "greasers" in school.
And, to a certain extent, feared by all.
As portrayed in the movies and on television, the scientists were always the ones who tried to warn the military - and as the voice(s) of reason they were right virtually every time.
It was also the only field of higher learning that was regularly depicted as allowing women to participate as equals to men. Truly advanced in every way.
No matter what the situation facing our World, science and scientists came together as a unified body. There were no national boundaries, despite all attempts by governments to stymie amalgamation; gender was not questioned; nobody considered the race of the next person - the only concern was that they were scientists and there was an Earth-threatening problem to solve.
Scientists share a feeling of camaraderie that does not exist among many other professionals. Perhaps this is because it is such a small fraternity, and so few outsiders understand the World and Universe as they do.
In 1957 scientists from 46 nations assembled to study Planet Earth. This megaresearch project, known as The International Geophysical Year (IGY), took place from July 1, 1957 until December 31, 1958.
IGY was modeled on the International Polar Years of 1882-83 and 1932-33. Scientific technology and methodology in the latter half of the 1950s had accelerated by light years since the 1930s, in part due to rapid advancements necessitated by World War II, the atomic age, and the space race.
By the time IGY came to a close, its member nations had grown nearly 50% to 67. The following is a short description contained in an undated "Space Age News Map" from KCMO AM-TV-FM, Kansas City, Missouri (found at www.n4mw.com/igy.htm):
"The International Geophysical Year is a period which will see over 8,000 scientists from more than 60 countries cooperating in a world-wide study of the planet Earth. Their energies will be devoted to GEOPHYSICS - a field of study which includes all sciences concerned with the earth: Its interior, crust, land masses, oceans and the surrounding gaseous envelope of the atmosphere. The period July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958 was chosen for the IGY largely because it is during this time that the eleven-year cycle of sunspot activity will be at its height. In the United States the geophysical program is being conducted by the U.S. National Committee for the IGY, a part of the National Academy of Sciences, with the support of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.
"While great publicity has been given to the artificial satellites which are a part of the IGY program, there are many other fields of activity which are important. These include studies of the Aurora or Northern Lights; Cosmic Rays in the upper reaches of the atmosphere and in outer space; Geomagnetism Gravity; the Ionosphere; Oceanography; Meteorology, or the causes and patterns of weather; Geology; Seismology, or the study of earthquakes, Volcanoes, and tidal waves; Latitude and Longitude positions of more precise accuracy; and all scientific aspects of Solar Activity, especially sunspots."
So, last week the International Astronomical Union (IAU) of Planet Earth got together in Prague, Czech Republic, to vote on the fate of little old Pluto.
Now, don't you think by being the ninth and furthest from Sol it already felt like the red-headed stepchild?
Not only that, but Pluto wasn't even "discovered" until 1930, which had to add to its inferiority complex of being the runt of the litter.
So, the IAU goes and kicks sand in wee lad's face by demoting it to "dwarf planet" status.
That is just so mean.
And, to a certain extent, feared by all.
As portrayed in the movies and on television, the scientists were always the ones who tried to warn the military - and as the voice(s) of reason they were right virtually every time.
It was also the only field of higher learning that was regularly depicted as allowing women to participate as equals to men. Truly advanced in every way.
Scientists share a feeling of camaraderie that does not exist among many other professionals. Perhaps this is because it is such a small fraternity, and so few outsiders understand the World and Universe as they do.
In 1957 scientists from 46 nations assembled to study Planet Earth. This megaresearch project, known as The International Geophysical Year (IGY), took place from July 1, 1957 until December 31, 1958.
IGY was modeled on the International Polar Years of 1882-83 and 1932-33. Scientific technology and methodology in the latter half of the 1950s had accelerated by light years since the 1930s, in part due to rapid advancements necessitated by World War II, the atomic age, and the space race.
By the time IGY came to a close, its member nations had grown nearly 50% to 67. The following is a short description contained in an undated "Space Age News Map" from KCMO AM-TV-FM, Kansas City, Missouri (found at www.n4mw.com/igy.htm):
"The International Geophysical Year is a period which will see over 8,000 scientists from more than 60 countries cooperating in a world-wide study of the planet Earth. Their energies will be devoted to GEOPHYSICS - a field of study which includes all sciences concerned with the earth: Its interior, crust, land masses, oceans and the surrounding gaseous envelope of the atmosphere. The period July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958 was chosen for the IGY largely because it is during this time that the eleven-year cycle of sunspot activity will be at its height. In the United States the geophysical program is being conducted by the U.S. National Committee for the IGY, a part of the National Academy of Sciences, with the support of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.
"While great publicity has been given to the artificial satellites which are a part of the IGY program, there are many other fields of activity which are important. These include studies of the Aurora or Northern Lights; Cosmic Rays in the upper reaches of the atmosphere and in outer space; Geomagnetism Gravity; the Ionosphere; Oceanography; Meteorology, or the causes and patterns of weather; Geology; Seismology, or the study of earthquakes, Volcanoes, and tidal waves; Latitude and Longitude positions of more precise accuracy; and all scientific aspects of Solar Activity, especially sunspots."
So, last week the International Astronomical Union (IAU) of Planet Earth got together in Prague, Czech Republic, to vote on the fate of little old Pluto.
Now, don't you think by being the ninth and furthest from Sol it already felt like the red-headed stepchild?
Not only that, but Pluto wasn't even "discovered" until 1930, which had to add to its inferiority complex of being the runt of the litter.
So, the IAU goes and kicks sand in wee lad's face by demoting it to "dwarf planet" status.
That is just so mean.
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