50 Years Ago

The Committee on Scientific Research in Schools which was established by the Council of the Royal Society in 1957 has issued a report covering the period November 1, 1959–October 31, 1960. It is stated that interest shown by schools in undertaking research has continued to increase, and the Committee is now administering research projects in 56 schools. Some of these schools have more than one research project under way and a total of 66 separate research projects are now being actively pursued compared with 57 last year ... All research projects with which the Committee is dealing are carried out with the specialist advice and assistance of Fellows of the Society and by others who act as advisers. The Committee invites further requests from school-masters and school-mistresses for assistance in undertaking research.

From Nature 4 February 1961

100 Years Ago

Many attempts have been made to synchronise the phonograph or gramophone with the kinematograph, so as to be able to reproduce simultaneously the sounds of the voice, as in singing and speech, while the movements of the face and the bodily gestures of the singer or speaker are depicted on the screen ... The difficulties, however, appear to have been surmounted by M. Gaumont ... The details of the method are not fully developed, but they are to be made public without delay ... We may soon have in our homes the chefs-d'oeuvre of our theatres played by our best actors, and even lectures by famous professors may not be restricted to their class-rooms ... Such reproductions are to be called phonoscenes.

From Nature 2 February 1911