Early Natural History in South-East Asia

This topic formed the basis of a joint meeting with the Society for the History of Natural History on 8 December 1998.     

The Natural History of Oxygen

The nuclear reactions occurring in the cores of stars which are believed to produce the element oxygen are first described. Evidence for the absence of free oxygen in the early atmosphere of the earth is reviewed. Mechanisms of creation of atmospheric oxygen by photochemical processes are then discussed in detail. Uncertainty regarding the rate of diffusion of water vapor through the cold trap at 70 km altitude in calculating the rate of the photochemical production of oxygen is avoided by using data for the concentration of hydrogen atoms at 90 km obtained from the Meinel OH absorption bands. It is estimated that the present atmospheric oxygen content could have been produced five to ten times during the earth's history. It is shown that the isotopic composition of atmospheric oxygen is not that of photosynthetic oxygen. The fractionation of oxygen isotopes by organic respiration and oxidation occurs in a direction to enhance the O¹⁸ content of the atmosphere and compensates for the O¹⁸ dilution resulting from photosynthetic oxygen. Thus, an oxygen isotope cycle exists in nature.     

美国自然历史博物馆之旅——见证生命起源

美国国家自然历史博物馆是世界上最大的自然历史博物馆之一,位于美国首都华盛顿第十大街和宪法大道西北。该馆隶属于世界闻名的史密森研究院,1910年正式开馆,距今已有百年历史。博物馆致力于收集、保存和展出关于自然历史和人类文化艺术的藏品,展出内容涵盖了现生物、化     

A Natural History of You

High school biology is typically taught with an emphasis on human biology. The human body is broken down into distinct systems without regard to the origins of its parts. As a result, students are left with the impression that our biology is incredibly unique as opposed to a consequence of conservative replication and the retention of traits over millions of years. Here, I present a brief example of how the practice of phylogenetic systematics affects how we identify ourselves, and I pay homage to a particular section of our evolutionary legacy that joins all animals great and small with an interactive laboratory exercise.     

On Natural History and Ecology

Percolating filters provide easily accessible, rewarding sites for ecological fieldwork, within the scope of GCE A-level syllabuses. The use of percolating filters reduces problems of organization, avoids damage to habitats, and provides a local study site which can be used for fieldwork or the rapid collection of biological material throughout the year. The component species are easily identified and the habitat can be studied as a simple or complex system. Meaningful data, both micro and macroscopic, can be easily collected to study species interactions.     

美国自然历史博物馆之旅——哺乳动物展

在美国纽约曼哈顿区有一座博物馆,它独占中央公园西侧,用22座建筑物组成了一个自然历史殿堂,这就是有口皆碑的纽约自然历史博物馆。该博物馆建立于1869年,有50多个展厅,收藏着人类有史以来的各种植物、动物和矿物标本3600万件之多,现陈列有天文、矿物、人类、古动物和现代动物5个方面12个学部。就收藏标本之富,涵盖学科面之广,都无愧为世界最大的博物馆之一。