50 Years Ago

On the morning of November 3, the U.S.S.R. announced from Moscow the launching of the second artificial Earth satellite — about a month after the launching, on October 4, of the first … For the first time in history, a living mammal from the Earth is travelling in an Earth satellite, for the second one is carrying a dog: at the time of writing it was “calm and behaving normally” according to Russian reports … The launching of the second satellite is staggering enough in itself; but some Russian scientists have stated that it is hoped that the dog will return alive. They claim to have solved the immensely difficult 're-entry' problem; that is, the safe passage through the atmosphere in spite of the great heat generated through friction. This possibility will be watched with the keenest interest. The greatest peril which the animal is facing is the absence, or considerable reduction in strength, of gravity; also it is conceivable that cosmic rays at that height may have a fatal effect on the nervous system.

From Nature 9 November 1957.

100 Years Ago

No-one more fully understands the danger of indiscriminately using a questionnaire than Dr. J. G. Frazer, who is publishing through the Cambridge University Press his “Questions on the Customs, Beliefs, and Languages of Savages” … They are intended, not so much to be put directly to the savage, as to indicate to the inquirer in the field those subjects upon which students at home desire information. Leading questions should be avoided, as they tempt the savage to give answers which he thinks will be acceptable. The savage should be encouraged to talk in his usual vague way until he has exhausted his information for the time, when a question judiciously asked may jog his memory.

From Nature 7 November 1907.