Biodiversity and Ecoforecasting I Ben Franklin and Tom Jefferson Lt. Matthew Maury and Adm. Robert Fitzroy Revolution in Science: Pasteur and Roux Temporal/spatial ambiguity resolved by artificial satellites: TIROS and ESSA The hallmark of good science is the ability for successful prediction. Prof. J. Westfall (1960) B. Franklin and T. Jefferson 1743, On 21 Oct, Friday, at 9pm 1734, a great storm prevented Franklin's intended observation of an eclipse of the moon. But when Franklin received the northern papers, he saw that the eclipse had been observed in Boston and other places to the northeast. He had earlier traced the course of thunderstorms Ordinance of Provided for the rectangular land survey of the Old Northwest. The rectangular survey has been called "the largest single act of national planning in our history and... the most significant in terms of continuing impact on the body politic B. Franklin T. Jefferson (Cmdr) Lt. Matthew Maury and Adm. Robert Fitzroy 1863 Mellersh, H.E.L.: FitzRoy of the Beagle, 1968, Mason and Lipscomb, 308p, ISBN:Matthew MauryRobert Fitzroy Revolution by Science: Biology and Medicine 1885, 1894 Louis Pasteur discovered the method for the attenuation of virulent microorganisms that is the basis of vaccination, and developed vaccines against chicken cholera, anthrax and swine erysipelas. After mastering his method of vaccination, he applied this concept to rabies. On July 6, 1885, his pioneering rabies treatment was tested on a human for the first time.1894 Roux describes first diphtheria cure, tetanus and typhoid follow. Humans begin to cure, not simply treat, disease. Mankind is no longer a helpless bystander in the face of these infections. Louis Pasteur Emile Roux Tiros I and ESSA I 1960, 1966 Satellite observation of the earth removes temporal-spatial ambiguity. First TIROS image, 1 December 1960 Hurricane Faith off Cape Hatteras, Noth Caarolina 1 Sepember 1966 Owen Glendower: I can call forth spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I. So can any man; but will they come when you do call for them? W. Shakespear Henry IV, Part I Biodiversity and Ecoforecasting II Do Viral Pandemics Cause Sunspots? Figure 1: Mean sunspot numbers compared with timings of major world-wide pandemics (P) of influenza. Note in particular 1918: "Spanish Flu" (H1N1) caused 500,000 deaths in the USA; "Asian Flu" (H2N2) caused 70,000 deaths in the USA; "Hong Kong flu" (H3N2) caused 34,000 deaths in the USA; 1977 "Red flu" (H1N1) caused 30,000 deaths in the USA. HOYLE F. & WlCKRAMASINGHE, N. C. Nature 343, 304 (25 January 1990); Sunspots and influenza