50 Years Ago

The solution of the ribonuclease structure at a resolution of 2 Å ... is clearly an event of unique importance and interest ... The schematic illustration of the chain outline shown in the article gives only a small portion of the information which is expected shortly to emerge, but some interesting conclusions may already be drawn, particularly in connexion with predictions based on chemical evidence ... The appearance of the ribonuclease structure necessarily represents, among other more important consequences, a day of reckoning for those bold enough to have offered three-dimensional structures based only on indirect evidence. Such structures do not appear to have fared well ... At the present stage it therefore appears that the indirect approach to the construction of three-dimensional protein structures is of dubious value. The appearance of more complete structural data will ... now be awaited with the greatest interest.

From Nature 11 March 1967

100 Years Ago

The main thesis of the authors of this book is that much of the fatigue occurring among industrial workers is unnecessary, and is caused by the carrying out of the work under conditions which involve excessive and avoidable expenditure of energy. The methods suggested for the elimination of unnecessary fatigue consist for the most part of various mechanical devices. One of these consists in the provision of high chairs so that the workers can sit to their work instead of having to stand. Another suggestion is the use of chairs with springs which exclude vibration from the floors ... application of these methods produces a striking improvement.

From Nature 8 March 1917

Footnote 1