50 years ago

A research station to study the effects of the aurora on radio reception is to be set up on the site of a former radar station at Hillhead, near Fraserburgh, in Aberdeenshire. This investigation, part of a programme of ionospheric studies, will be undertaken by the Stanford Research Institute of America in collaboration with scientists from the Royal Radar Establishment of the Ministry of Supply. Observations will be made with a large parabolic reflector about 140 ft. in diameter brought from America ... The Aberdeenshire site has been chosen because of its geographical suitability for the study of auroral phenomena. There will be no radiation danger, and interference with radio and television will be prevented by the operating conditions laid down for the installation.

From Nature 28 February 1959.

100 years ago

In the February number of Naturen Dr. L. Stejneger adduces further evidence in favour of the theory of the existence, at a comparatively recent date, of a land-bridge between Scotland and Scandinavia. This evidence is mainly based on the distribution of the species, or races, of charr (Salvelinus) ... Salvelinus alpinus is considered to be common to western Scandinavia and Scotland, while in eastern Scandinavia we have the typical S. salvelinus of the Alps. Iceland is the home of S. nivalis, while further north occur S. insularis and S. stagnalis. Lapland is the home of an intermediate form known as S. salvelino-stagnalis, while another annectant type, S. alpino-stagnalis, occurs in Greenland.

Also:

At the meeting of the Royal Society on Thursday, February 18, telegrams of congratulations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin were read from the University of Christiania, the University, Kharkoff ... the Society of Naturalists, Kharkoff ... and the Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm.

From Nature 25 February 1909.