50 Years ago

To meet the great world-wide interest in nuclear science and its applications, it has often been suggested that regional centres should be created ... The first of such centres to be established is the CENTO ... Institute of Nuclear Science, formerly the Baghdad Pact Nuclear Centre, which now serves the three countries of the CENTO region, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. The Institute is concerned exclusively with the peaceful uses of nuclear science ... The original Nuclear Centre in Baghdad was formally opened on March 31, 1957 ... and trained about sixty Middle East scientists in nuclear techniques, before the Iraqi revolution brought operations to a close. A decision to re-establish the Centre in Tehran was taken jointly by the CENTO countries in January 1959, and on June 23, 1959, H.I.M. the Shahenshah of Iran performed the opening ceremony in the presence of a distinguished audience.

From Nature 14 May 1960.

100 Years ago

King Edward the Seventh is no more. An Empire is in mourning. The death of the King has come with a suddenness which has stunned his people, who, however, have already given no uncertain signs of the deep love and respect they entertained for a ruler who always strove to do his duty. Her Majesty the Queen-Mother and the other members of the Royal Family know full well that they are not the only mourners, and that the sympathy of millions in the widest Empire the world has known, and others outside it, is extended to them in their personal loss ... In the midst of the nation's grief at a loss so great and so sudden that there has not been time to realise it, comfort may be found in the assurance which we possess that in the future, as in the past, the illustrious Royal Family will guard the best interests of our Empire.

From Nature 12 May 1910.