The 'water controversy' concerns one of the central discoveries of modern science, that water is not an element but rather a compound. The allocation of priority in this discovery was contentious in the 1780s and has occupied a number of 20th century historians. The matter is tied up with the larger issues of the so-called chemical revolution of the late eighteenth century. A case can be made for James Watt or Henry Cavendish or Antoine Lavoisier as having priority in the discovery depending upon precisely what the discovery is taken to consist of, however, neither the protagonists themselves in the 1780s nor modern historians qualify as those most fervently interested in the affair. In fact, the controversy attracted most attention in early Victorian Britain some fifty to seventy years after the actual work of Watt, Cavendish and Lavoisier. The central historical question to which the book addresses itself is why the priority claims of long dead natural philosophers so preoccupied a wide range of people in the later period. The answer to the question lies in understanding the enormous symbolic importance of James Watt and Henry Cavendish in nineteenth-century science and society. More than credit for a particular discovery was at stake here. When we examine the various agenda of the participants in the Victorian phase of the water controversy we find it driven by filial loyalty and nationalism but also, most importantly, by ideological struggles about the nature of science and its relation to technological invention and innovation in British society. At a more general, theoretical, level, this study also provides important insights into conceptions of the nature of discovery as they are debated by modern historians, philosophers and sociologists of science.

Discover the science behind exploring and understanding water with young children.

Read about the properties of water, the forms of water, and how we use water.

The trainer’s guide serves as an indispensable handbook for trainers and administrators interested in introducing staff to the Exploring Water with Young Children curriculum—from planning to implementation. From exploring sinking and floating to using books to extend science learning, seven basic and eight advanced workshops develop staff members’ understanding of science and inquiry teaching skills. The guide also includes strategies for supporting teachers over time through mentoring and guided discussions, as well as an extensive resource list.

Best friends Leah and Angela love exploring the world around them. Their time being out in nature and discovering new trails in the woods or spending hours by a lake differ from their teenage peers, who seem to be on a more traditional path in their lives. Leah feels the need to break free from the boundaries of her small community and longs to have an adventure that will take her to places she’s only dreamed of or read about in magazines. She knows that Angela will be right by her side when she does. On one momentous day, a hot air balloon passes overhead and Leah discovers their ticket out of their normal lives. Using all of their resources, and Angela’s amazing sewing skills, the pair build their own hot air balloon that will literally lift them to new heights. After months of planning, building, and packing, the day has arrived when they will set off for unknown destinations, purely at the whim of the wind and natural elements. After battling through storms and an attack by an aggressive group of albatross, Leah and Angela find themselves on an isolated island that they can’t wait to explore. But when a strange man offers them the ultimate adventure to an alternate realm, they are torn on whether they should play it safe or take a chance. Are they brave enough to enter a new world, and if they do, will they ever return?

Within a few minutes, learn to assess vibrations surrounding a specific year, month, and day--even a specific person--through this numerology guide.