Today in Science (0810)

To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.

Events

1846 - The Smithsonian Institution is chartered by the U.S. Congress after $500,000 was given for such a purpose by scientist James Smithson.

1990 - The Magellan space probe reaches Venus.

Births

1839 - Aleksandr Grigorievich Stoletov, Russian physicist

1902 - Arne Tiselius, Swedish chemist, Nobel laureate

1913 - Wolfgang Paul, German physicist, Nobel laureate

Deaths

1802 - Franz Aepinus, German scientist

1839 - John St Aubyn, British fossil collector

1896 - Otto Lilienthal, German aviation pioneer (above)

1915 - Henry Moseley, English physicist

1945 - Robert Goddard, American rocket scientist

1979 - Walter Gerlach, German physicist