50 Years Ago

It is surprising to find that despite the widespread attention directed to the United Nations conference last February on the application of science and technology for the benefit of the less-developed areas, the admirable issue “World of Opportunity” of the New Scientist of February 14 still appears to remain the only one in which that conference has been at all adequately handled by British periodicals. This comparative neglect, in spite of copious literature distributed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in no way detracts from the excellence of the issue of the New Scientist which is as welcome for its enterprise as for its intrinsic and timely merit.

From Nature 6 April 1963

100 Years Ago

Disastrous floods have followed the severe windstorms in the United States on March 23. The areas chiefly affected are the middle western States ... Immense tracts of country have been submerged, and many large towns have become flooded. Much of the ground is below the flood level of the rivers, and in parts the embankments have given way, whilst many tributary rivers have overflowed their banks. Dayton, Indianapolis, Columbus, and numerous other smaller towns have suffered immensely during the last week of March and much loss of life has occurred. Hundreds of houses have been washed away, and immense suffering has been caused ... The rivers are said to be still rising in many places, and the full result of the disaster will depend largely upon the weather for the next week or two.

From Nature 3 April 1913