Science History Bonanza!

Alert readers of this Web log may have noticed that we're kind of fanboys when it comes to the Royal Society.  In particular, during its early years the Society was the most amazing gathering of scientific intellects since the Museum of Alexandria.  You had Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, John Wilkins, and Christopher Wren all rubbing elbows at meetings. 

But it was more than just a chowder society for eggheads.  The Royal Society took the innovative step of publishing all the discoveries and experiments presented before the group.  As far as I'm aware this was the first time scientific knowledge was systematically made available to anyone who might be interested.  In those days one could stay absolutely up to date on the cutting edge of science by simply reading the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Well, good news:  you can do it now.  No, this isn't a subscription pitch.  The Society has made its archives available online -- FREE -- until December.  Go forth and browse.