tulip rete

Whenever I pass by I admire a beautiful astrolabe in the clock repair shop around the corner. There are many lovely things in the window, but I’ve always been especially fond of these instruments. The Museo di Storia della Scienza has a great collection, and the British Musem has this – a rare ‘pocket’ version found some years back.

yet more Antikythera Mechanism

Since I linked to Tony Freeth's video on the Antikythera Mechanism a couple months ago, and it was so lovely, I assumed I wouldn't be revisiting that bit of ancient technology here so soon, but between Michael Wright's reconstruction on Youtube (I am totally weak for that kind of thing), and the release of Jo Marchant's book (I've enjoyed her articles in 'New Scientist' and 'Nature'), here we are again. Ms Marchant's book will be available in the U.S. January 2009, or you can order it now from Amazon.co.uk.

not sisters

This map is so beautiful, I was happy to hear that more investigations at the site indicate its true status. Mr Hitchcock has compiled some articles on it here, he also has a page of hoaxes, including Piltdown Man, a childhood favourite of mine.

Years ago I visited a house outside London that had a display of silver and other items that had spent years in a closet because they were forgeries. The family decided that besides being beautiful, the stories of the hoaxes were interesting, so they revealed all, a bold move.

I loved the Voynich Manuscript the first time I saw it, even though I was sure it was a fake. Besides its beauty, the fact that it is a forgery makes it fascinating, I keep wishing more information would turn up.

Antikythera Mechanism

I was hoping, since the news this summer, that someone would come up with better animations of the Antikythera Mechanism but this was the best I could find (besides poor animation and visuals most of the videos have such irritating soundtracks).

*[Later note: A wonderful video with great animations is at Antikythera Mechanism, part 2, and here is a photo essay to complement it with photos, x-rays, and diagrams from the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project.]

truant

After moving my tools, paint, and a miniscule portion of the bazillion little bits I use for sculpture I’m picking out some images for etchings I’ll be doing a couple weeks from now. That task and some warm (Indian) pumpkin milk pudding made taking a break from moving seem unavoidable.