50 Years Ago

Investigations were conducted here to determine the effect of a magnetic field on the ripening of green tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. V. R. Moscow). Four permanent magnets of considerable strength were utilized. Fruits of uniform maturity were placed between the magnetic poles ... The ripening rates of treated fruits were compared with those of untreated controls in the same room under similar conditions ... In all cases the treated fruits ripened faster than the controls. Furthermore, the fruits nearest the magnetic south ripened faster than those nearest the magnetic north.

From Nature 6 July 1963

100 Years Ago

In recent issues of Nature several correspondents, in referring to the fact that a metal bedstead or a few wires stretched a few feet above the ground will make a wireless antenna, have overlooked a most important point, viz. that with such an antenna the ordinary methods of tuning are quite useless. A piece of wire netting suspended a few feet above the ground makes a most effective aerial, and enables one to receive loud signals from long-distance stations, but signals from Eiffel Tower, Cleethorpes, &c. will all be mixed up, and the ordinary tuner will not separate them effectively ... Wireless signals that are feeble when the surface of the earth is dry, becoming stronger after rain, and the well-known fact that these waves travel much better over sea than over land, all seem to indicate that the aerial waves are at least supplemented by waves that travel along the surface of the earth.

From Nature 3 July 1913