Science Bulletin Nov/Dec. 2013 Nobel Prize Edition | Page 11

Gutenberg's invention definitely changed science forever. In 1543 Copernicus published his book "On the Revolution Of Heavenly Spheres". Because of Gutenberg's invention the book was published and distributed to many prominent scientists who questioned it and condemned it. However at least the idea was up for discussion and now that the idea was out it could be edited and refined. As Richard Oosterhoff from the University of Notre Dame

said “Copernicus, Vesalius, Galileo, and Newton--spent many years reading the works of other philosophers as well as tinkering with mathematics, human bodies, telescopes, and so on. But if they hadn't published their ideas in these kinds of books, it is hard to see how their way of seeing the world would have mattered to everyone else.” So instead of a scientist starting from scratch, now he could build on the idea's of his predecessors and make brilliant discoveries, using the knowledge of scientist's who came before him or her. So finally scientists could truly stand on the shoulders of giants and look further than ever thought possible.

The Scientific Revolution was also greatly influenced by the Royal Society of London and science societies like it. Members would meet and talk about Ideas sent to them from great men like Robert Hooke(first to look at a microbe). These societies were imperative for the development of science, they were like the scientific journals of today; forums in which the most prominent scientists can openly criticize and approve of scientific beliefs and experiments. Because these societies received so many letters to bring to the forum they would often print letters in large quantities to send to members and the public alike. It was assumed that letters from famous scientists were to be published.

Another type of media imperative to the Scientific Revolution brought up by Richard Oosterhoff were books of secrets. As he said “These were actually about "trade secrets", recipes and instruction booklets for how to use tools, make medicines and face cream, or even do magic tricks. One important book was even given the name Natural Magick (by Giambattista della Porta)--the phrase "natural magic" here means ways to use nature to give surprising results. For example, he suggests that one should breed a dog and a fox in order to get small dogs that are good at tricks. "Books of Secrets" weren't high-level scientific results; they were more like Popular Mechanics books today, or perhaps the books on "How to Wire your House" that you see at the checkout line at Lowes. These kinds of books gave "natural philosophers" (people who studied nature) the idea that nature is a bit like a machine, something that can be made, if you're good enough with your hands. That let people like Galileo learn how to do stuff, like make telescopes”

nature to give surprising results. For example, he suggests that one should breed a dog and a fox in order to get small dogs that are good at tricks. "Books of Secrets" weren't high-level scientific results; they were more like Popular Mechanics books today, or perhaps the books on "How to Wire your House" that you see at the checkout line at Lowes. These kinds of books gave "natural philosophers" (people who studied nature) the idea that nature is a bit like a machine, something that can be made, if you're good enough with your hands. That let people like Galileo learn how to do stuff, like make telescopes”

All of these types of printed media were used during the Scientific Revolution a time where the most fundamental laws of medicine, physics, and other sciences were proven. It is hard to Imagine this period of great development happening without the printing press. As Oosterhof said “ If they hadn't published their ideas in these kinds of books, it is hard to see how their way of seeing the world would have mattered to everyone else.”

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