By Richard T. Cartwright, PE, CHMM, (IHMM, AHMP and APICS) Fellow
The saying, “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is more than a cliché. It is a reminder that we must constantly be learning from the past. Here’s a look back at major historical events that happened today in the world of hazardous materials.
August 16, 2006
The California Climate Action Team endorsed growing trees to combat climate change brought on by carbon emissions. In particular, it was found that young trees absorb the most carbon. The team recommended better forest management and growing trees in cities.
August 16, 2003
The official name for element 110, Darmstadtium, and its symbol, Ds, was decided during the IUPAC meeting. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is an organization of chemists from more than 80 countries whose duties include selecting official names, symbols and scientific terms. Darmstadtium was first identified in a high-energy physics laboratory in Germany in 1994, where Element 110 was created for a fraction of a thousandth of a second.
August 16, 1906
An earthquake destroyed two-thirds of Valparaiso, Chile. The coastline was raised 3 feet, and 3,886 people died. Valparaiso had previously been struck by major earthquakes in 1731, 1822, 1839 and 1873.
August 16, 1896
Nuggets of gold discovered in a Yukon Territory creek bed sparked the last great gold rush in the American west. “Klondike Fever” helped to develop Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Gold miner hardships and adventures inspired the highly romanticized Yukon tales of Jack London and Robert Service.
August 16, 1884
Hugo Gernsback, American publisher and inventor who held 80 patents, was born. This “Father of Science Fiction” helped establish an independent literary form. He wrote a 12-part story for his magazine, Modern Electrics, filled with all kinds of wild inventions unheard of in 1926, including television (he is credited with introducing this word), fluorescent lighting, jukeboxes, solar energy, microfilm, vending machines and a device we now call radar. Note: Science fiction has inspired many young readers to become future scientists, engineers and hazardous materials professionals.
August 16, 1849
Johann Kjeldahl, a German chemist, was born. He developed the Kjeldahl laboratory method to determine nitrogen content in organic compounds. This was of great value for applications in agriculture, medicine and drug manufacture.
August 16, 1832
Wilhelm Wundt, a German physiologist and psychologist, was born. He established the first laboratory for experimental psychology. He maintained that psychology should investigate immediate experiences of consciousness, including sensations, feelings, volitions, apperception and ideas. His methods are still used in modern psychophysical work, where reactions to external stimuli are measured in some way, such as reaction time, reactions and comparison with graded colors or sounds.
Historical hazardous materials management events are posted 365 days a year at this LinkedIn discussion group.
