50 years ago

“A Suggested Revision of Nomenclature — Angiotensin” The vasoactive peptide resulting from the action of rennin on an alpha-globulin was discovered by two groups of investigators, with the result that it received two trivial names, angiotonin and hypertensin. Synthesis of the octapeptide has now confirmed the identity of this peptide and justifies dropping the double nomenclature. We propose the simplified name, angiotensin, and its derivatives angiotensinase and angiotensinogen. Angiotensin is a hybrid word but does, we think, have the advantage of being easy to pronounce even with a variety of accents, is euphonious, and is understandable despite the most recalcitrant microphone. Eduardo Braun-Menendez & Irvine H. Page

From Nature 12 April 1958.

100 years ago

Paris, Academy of Sciences, March 30 ... The determination of time, both on land and at sea, with the aid of wireless telegraphy: Bouquet de la Grye. With the present installation at the Eiffel Tower, wireless signals can be sent a distance of 2000 kilometres, and it has been estimated that by increasing the electric energy this distance could be doubled. It is suggested that a special signal should be sent exactly at midnight ... Such a time signal would be of the greatest service to navigators within its radius. On the proposal of the president, the examination of the proposition ... was referred to a committee composed of the members of the sections of astronomy, geography, navigation, and physics, together with MM. Darboux, Poincaré, and Cailletet.

A phenomenon attributable to positive electrons in the spark spectrum of yttrium: Jean Becquerel. The experimental study of the Zeeman effect in the spark spectrum of yttrium gives results which may be most simply explained by assuming the presence of positive electrons.

From Nature 9 April 1908.