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6 Amazing Facts About the Life of Physicist Herman Russell Branson

Celebrating the Life of Physicist Herman Russell Branson

(Aug. 14, 1914 – June 07, 1995)

The Beginning 

Branson was a physicist and chemist who was responsible for discovering the alpha-helix protein structure in biological systems. He was educated at Virginia State College in 1936 where he earned a bachelor’s in physics. After graduating, Branson went on to the University of Cincinnati to obtain his Ph.D. in physics. He studied under the direction of Boris Padowski in 1939 who was a confidant of Albert Einstein. Branson and Padowski wrote the research paper On the Quantization of Mass in 1940.

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10 Captivating Animals Exclusive to Africa

There are thousands of species of animals that are unique to the African continent that exist nowhere else on Earth. Sadly, most of these beautiful creatures are being hunted by poachers and big game enthusiasts. So their populations are dwindling at record numbers. Here are only a small sampling of the exclusive African wildlife that are still living today.

Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), in its alpine moorland habitat, Bale National Park, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Wolf  

This type of wolf is an endangered species that has had declining numbers for decades. It is estimated that the wolf only has a population of 500. The Ethiopian wolf is a canine and native to the Ethiopian highlands.

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Giraffe

This animal is the tallest living animal. Giraffes are herbivores and have been targeted by poachers for decades. In the above photo, two male giraffes are competing for dominance.

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8 Examples of Possible Life on Other Planets and Moons in Our Solar System

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Saturn’s largest moon has hydrocarbon lakes that could support life. Out of all the celestial bodies in our solar system, Titan has a makeup that could give potential alien life a chance at existence.

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Europa is one of Jupiter’s many moons and has enough water to support life. Underneath an icy surface is an extreme cold reservoir of water that may contain a variety of bacteria. As of this year, the Obama administration has provided $15 million in funding for an expedition to the moon. There is also a probe called the Europa Clipper in the works.

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10 Black Scientists and Physicians Who Changed History With Their Groundbreaking Achievements

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Benjamin Banneker (Nov. 9, 1731 – Oct. 9, 1806)

Banneker was an astronomer, mathematician and author who constructed America’s first functional clock. In the early days of the U.S., Banneker was a prominent abolitionist working with Thomas Jefferson on improving the lives of Black people in this nation. He was also one of the few people to help survey the borders of Washington, D.C.

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Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (Jan. 18, 1858 – Aug. 4, 1931)

Williams performed the first prototype open-heart surgery. He also was the second surgeon to perform a pericardium surgery to repair a wound. In 1891, he created one of the first non-segregated hospitals in the U.S. He called it Provident Hospital and it was located in Chicago.

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10 Ridiculous Science Myths That Too Many People Believe Are True

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Evolution

Evolution does not cause something to go from “lower” to a “higher” stage of development. In many cases, organisms can evolve without any major improvements. Some examples of this are fungi, sharks, crayfish and mosses. These organisms have all remained virtually the same over a great period of time.

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The Hottest Planet in Our Solar System

Even though Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, Venus is really the hottest. The surface temperature of Venus is so hot it can melt lead. The temperature at the surface is 740 K (467 degrees Celsius or 872 degrees Fahrenheit).

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