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Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1

by Edmond HALLEY (1656 - 1742)

Concerning the Distance of the Fix'd Stars. By the Honourable Francis Roberts, Esq; S. R. S.

"The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence." (from its Mission Statement). As scientists have explored the world around them, observed and tried to explain natural phenomena, they have been invited to present papers to the Royal Society. Edmond Halley (of Halley's Comet fame) was an eminent member of the society and gathered together some of the most interesting papers of his day. Today, we may see errors in the logic or calculations, based on current knowledge, but these papers are unedited and as presented at the time and show how scientific knowledge was expanding in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Summary by Lynne Thompson

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Listen next episodes of Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1:
A Discourse concerning the Action of the Sun and Moon on Animal Bodies; and the Influence which This may have in many Diseases. By Richard Mead, M. D. F. R. S. Part 2 , A Discourse concerning Gravity, and its Properties, wherein the Descent of Heavy Bodies, and the Motion of Projects is briefly, but fully handled: Together with the Solution of a Problem of great Use in Gunnery. By E. Halley. , A Discourse concerning the Action of the Sun and Moon on Animal Bodies; and the Influence which This may have in many Diseases. By Richard Mead, M. D. F. R. S. Part 1 , A Discourse concerning the Measure of the Airs Resistance to Bodies moved in it. By the Learned John Wallis, S. T. D. and R. S. S. , A Proposition of general Use in the Art of Gunnery, shewing the Rule of laying a Mortar to pass, in order to strike an Object above or below the Horizon. , An Analytical Resolution of certain Equations of the Third, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth Powers, and so on ad Infinitum, in finite Terms, after the manner of Cardan's Rules for Cubicks. By Mr. A. Moivre, Transact. No 309. , An Estimate of the Degrees of the Mortality of Mankind, drawn from curious Tables of the Births and Funerals at the City of Breslaw; with an Attempt to ascertain the Price of Annuities upon Lives. By Mr. E. Halley, R. S. S. , An Instance of the Excellence of the Modern Algebra, in the Resolution of the Problem of finding the Foci of Optick Glasses Universally. By E. Halley, S. R. S. , The Famous Mr. Isaac Newton's Theory of the Moon.