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Birth of John Tyndall
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Greenhouse Effect
John Tyndall is also largely responsible for discovering what we call the greenhouse effect. Prior works had chalked the high temperature of the Earth up to the atmosphere working as an insulator. Tyndall discovered and explained gases in the atmosphere which were trapping heat.
https://youtu.be/1thc8JDgfXo -
Tyndallization
John Tyndall is also known for his work with sterilization and he worked alongside french biologist Louis Pasteur. He created what is called tyndallization or fractional sterilization. This method provided a way to remove all living microorganisms from food. Tyndallization involves a 3 day process in which food is boiled for 15-20 minutes and then left out at room temperature and then repeated again for the next 2 days. Tyndall's theory however was later discredited and found to be dangerous. -
Tyndall Effect
John Tyndall is responsible for the discovery of the Tyndall Effect. The Tyndall Effect is also known as the Tyndall Phenomenon. The Tyndall Effect determines whether a solution is colloidal or true. John Tyndall noticed that light scatters in a colloidal dispersion but no light is shown in a true solution. This is because a colloidal substance has scattered particles which doesn't allow light to travel straight through and instead collides with the particles causing a visible light beam. -
Presidential address given at meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
Tyndall famously gave an address in 1874 claiming the superiority of science over theology or religious explanations. He was pro natural law and rationalism which did not go over well as the meeting was held in Belfast, a place that was deeply religious, and many took his address as an attack on religion and was accused of atheism and materialism. -
Death of John Tyndall cont.
In a sad twist, his grief stricken wife took it upon herself to make it her life's work to compile all Tyndall's work into a multi volume Life and Letters. Sadly, she died before it could be completed and Tyndall descended into obscurity. His first biography was not made until 1945 and by that time, much of the information had been edited to remove anything unpalatable. -
Death of John Tyndall
Tyndall's death is particularly fascinating. He had requested magnesia from his wife Louisa to help with his insomnia. After she gave him a spoonful, Tyndall noted that it was unusually sweet and the realization was made that Louisa had accidently given him chloral, which is a very powerful narcotic and soon after Tyndall died. -
Major works
The Forms of Water in Clouds, Rivers, Ice, and Glaciers (London, 1872; 12th ed., 1897) -
Major works
John Tyndall, Natural Philosopher, 1820–1893 (London, 1974). -
Works Cited
Barton, Ruth. "John Tyndall". Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Nov. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Tyndall. Accessed 21 March 2021.
Tyndall Effect. 23 Sept. 2020, https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/1596.
Jackson, Roland. John Tyndall: the forgotten co-founder of climate science. 31 July 2020. https://theconversation.com/john-tyndall-the-forgotten-co-founder-of-climate-science. Accessed 21 March 2021. -
Work Cited cont.
"Tyndallization Sterilization: Definition, Process & History." Study.com, 2 October 2019, study.com/academy/lesson/tyndallization-sterilization-definition-process-history.html
"Tyndall, John ." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. . Encyclopedia.com. 19 Mar. 2021 https://www.encyclopedia.com.
