50 Years Ago

Goffman and Newill have directed attention to the analogy between the spreading of an infectious disease and the dissemination of information. We have recently examined the spreading of a rumour from the point of view of mathematical epidemiology ... a mathematical model for the spreading of rumours can be constructed in a number of different ways ... 'Reluctance to tell stale news' can be incorporated into the model.

From Nature 12 December 1964

100 Years Ago

In NATURE of December 3...there appeared a brief abstract of a paper communicated by Mr. Reginald A. Smith...on behalf of its author, Major E. R. Collins, D.S.O., now a wounded prisoner of war in Germany. This paper is not only an important contribution to our knowledge of the prehistoric stone implements of South Africa, but is evidence that a brave and capable soldier may, while helping to shape the history of his own time, give material assistance in unravelling the past history of the country through which he may be campaigning. Major Collins collected the material for his paper while engaged on trenching operations during the late Boer war ... Major Collins made his collection of the stone industries of the ancient inhabitants of South Africa, keeping systematic records of the deposits in which the various implements occurred ... I have little doubt that some of our French colleagues, amidst all the dangers and anxieties which attend the present war, will avail themselves of the opportunities presented by the extensive trenching operations in northern France to extend further our knowledge of prehistoric times.

From Nature 10 December 1914