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Seminar on History and Philosophy of Science

Tuesday, February 20, 2018
4:00pm to 5:00pm
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Einstein Papers Project, 363 S. Hill Ave.
Between the Sun and the Earth: The Recent History of Heliophysics and Space Weather
Gregory Good, Historian of Earth Science and Director of the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics,

Abstract: When Alexander von Humboldt introduced the term "magnetic storm" for disturbances of Earth's magnetic environment that sweep across the globe, the only manifestations were the northern lights and the errant magnetic compass. This talk explores how an arcane phenomenon once known mainly to scientists has become an environmental, technological, and policy concern. The phenomenon – indeed, phenomena – have always been there, but they did not matter until our science and technology made them matter. Hence, the story of coming to terms with solar-terrestrial interactions crosses boundaries between history of science, history of technology, and environmental history.

For more information, please contact Emily de Araujo by phone at 626-395-8044 or by email at [email protected].