In the last decade, the world experienced a profound change in natural relations. The decade began with the aftermath of World War II, leading to increased environmental awareness due to the devastation caused by the war. In 1921, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded, an important step in global environmental efforts. The decade saw a growing awareness of the importance of addressing conservation, such as the dust crisis in the United States, which became pronounced in the early quarter of the decade, but had its origins in the preceding decade. The 1920s also saw the rise of conservation movements, such as the establishment of national parks and protected areas. Important events included the establishment of Grand Canyon National Park in 1919 and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916 in the United States, which continued to influence environmental policies into the 1920s.
Britain and people in different parts of the world were facing the difficulties of economic recession due to the ups and downs of the First World War. This was a very bad time for Indian fortunes which fell into oblivion in many industrializing states. Workers demanded greater rights and accepted the challenge of bringing social issues to light. Natural’s new editor, Richard Gregory, provides a background in building this changing platform into a more modern and forward-looking journal. Under Gregory’s leadership, Natural took proactive stands on social issues, with weeklong editorials devoted to addressing those issues. He carefully assembled a select group, ensuring that the journal’s voice remained authentic and impactful. Despite his progressive outlook, Gregory’s new ideas sometimes took him in the wrong direction, as was the case with the journal’s unfortunate connection with then-modest, but now considered scandalous, sexism. Nevertheless, Nature engaged with scientific issues, such as education reform, engagement in state science, and the professionalization of science journalism. Major discoveries in physics, such as the interpretation of α-particle decomposition and the experimental verification of thermal sound, continued to strengthen the journal’s position, leading to a special number on Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Norman Lockyer, an important figure in the scientific community, left this world on 16 August 1920 at the age of 84. His legacy is unforgettable for his many contributions to science, education, reform, and communication. Lockyer’s first work in solar studies was an important contribution to our better understanding of the Sun and laid the foundation for future research. Also, his support for science education at all levels, from schools to universities, left a lasting mark on the educational landscape. Lockyer’s vision also extended beyond the laboratory; He played an important role in establishing the Science Museum in London, making scientific knowledge available to all. More than likely, Lockyer’s innovative proposals for science journalism revolutionized the field, laying the foundation for Nature’s enduring success. His tenacity, creativity, and commercial intelligence propelled the magazine to heights of fame, earning him both admirers and detractors. Lockyer’s passing marks the end of an era, but his influence on science and scientific communication still echoes today.
In stark contrast to Lockyer’s lofty legacy, Arthur J. Not much is known about V. Gale, who had joined Praktan Nature as future (joint) editor at the time of Lockyer’s death. A prominent agronomist, Gale’s contributions are obscured in journals and the broader scientific community. Like Lockyer, who left an indelible mark on the history of science, Gale’s legacy is a largely unknown planet. However, their relationship with Nature informs a shared commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting dialogue within the scientific community. While Lockyer’s name commands recognition and reverence, Gale’s story is often reminiscent of the countless individuals whose contributions to science often go unnoticed. Though their paths diverged, both Lockyer and Gell reflected the spirit of thought and the ideal of discovery that defined permanence in the familiarity of nature and in the short lineage of scientific history.
After the First World War and Lockyer’s demise, Nature’s Excellency fell into Gregory’s skilled hands. Gregory concentrated exclusively on continuous exercises for two fortnights to raise more. While during Lockyer’s tenure the think tank was primarily expected to review books, Gregory introduced a new approach in 1919. He initiated weekly commentary on important social or scientific issues, which focused on the intersection of science with the problems of society. Gregory’s enthusiasm for education remained constant, but it was now combined with a deep belief in science as a remedy for the ills of society.
In keeping with his vision for the journal, Gregory led restructuring efforts, simplifying the editing process and reducing the number of contributors. Whereas in Lockyer’s era hundreds of writers wrote editorial articles, Gregory limited this to a select few, leaving only four individuals responsible for writing the bulk of the editorial articles during the 1920s. This consolidation allowed it to assume a more structured and focused editorial direction, which coincided with Gregory’s mission to address major social and political issues through a science-based approach.
One of the first during the magazine’s maturity during the 1920s was the introduction of special numbers, which can be considered its first local issues. The edition dated 17 February 1921 devoted almost every page exclusively to Einstein’s groundbreaking theory of relativity. The introduction to this issue acknowledges the importance of the theory for general readers, mentioning the broader consideration of unique notions such as infinity and infinity. In particular, Scientific American offered a generous sum of US$5,000 for the clearest explanation of relativity theory, further demonstrating the importance of Einstein’s work. Despite the complexity of Einstein’s ideas, the publication complemented his writings with a series of short excerpts summarizing and clarifying the principles—this was typical of the informative approach adopted by Nature’s ‘News & Views’ section in later decades.
Einstein himself, pictured in 1921, expressed the attraction of summarizing the development of ideas. However, he acknowledged a formidable task of condensing complex concepts into meaningful underlying knowledge. In his translated article, he defined the essentials of his theory, the result of which is that a stream of thought can be characterized in terms of axiomatic steps. Nevertheless, the complexities of his work demanded additional explanation, resulting in ‘Nature’ making efforts to facilitate understanding and participation among its readers. This collaborative effort exemplifies the journal’s commitment to enhancing scientific understanding and community connections.
In the field of science journalism, a few individuals have left their mark, one of which is Gregory, the renowned editor of Nature. His tenure and his passion for exciting stories elevated the field to new heights, setting a standard for science communication that still stands today. Gregory’s tenure there was characterized by a dedicated effort to promote science journalism, which recognized the important role it played in making world-class discoveries accessible to the wider public. Addressing the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaus, Gregory lamented the lack of science news in newspapers and the inability of their staff to report on scientific matters. He married Edward W. The Science Service, founded by Scripps in 1921, exemplifies science communication as a beacon of excellence. Seeing this inspiring ideal, Gregory established a science news service in 1924 under the authority of the British Science Guild, which eventually evolved into the British Science Writers’ Association.
A watershed moment in the history of scientific discovery occurred in 1925 when Australopithecus africanus, also known as the “man-ape”, of South Africa was discovered. This great event was sparked by an important paper written by Raymond Dart, which aroused public interest and brought nature onto the global stage. Before this revelation, Nature had primarily staked its claim in the field of physics, with important discoveries such as electrons, radiation, isotopes, and X-rays. However, Dart’s radical claim that humans originated in Africa opened an important chapter on fauna, confirming Darwin’s prediction that Africa was the birthplace of the human race. Despite facing strong opposition from proponents of earlier Eurasian human origins, Dart produced significant petroleum evidence from Africa, prompting a new kind of study of man’s own origins. Dart predicted that Southern Africa would yield many additional discoveries related to our ancient history, opening up a rich future of scientific exploration.
The unveiling of Australopithecus africanus stands as a lasting legacy of the interview as a serial stimulating force of scientific exploration, with an outstandingly convincing experience. Raymond Dart’s seminal paper, published in 1925, served as a rallying cry to the scientific community, challenging backward ideas and transforming our understanding of our serial journey to understand our human origins. Through efficiency interviews, Dart’s daring hypothesis emerged victorious, permanently exposing the mysteries of humanity’s earliest cognitions and enduring nature as the harbinger of scientific exploration. When the dust settled on this historical mystery, one thing became clear: the legacy of Australopithecus africanus will be allowed to shine as a shining lamp, praising humanity and inspiring its rise through the ages.
In 1927, the scientific world was strongly alerted by two relevant letters that reached the office of Nature. These papers aim to fundamentally advance our knowledge of quantum physics and open the way for transformative inventions such as the electron microscope. The first of these letters, written by Clinton Davison and Lester Garmer (pictured), celebrates this amazing journey of scientific discovery. His journey began in 1925 when a sudden accident occurred in his laboratory. A mirror fresh air came out during their science test and they had electrons strike nickel to investigate its structure. Despite this accident, relatively little change was observed after nickel oxide was removed after plating. With further experimentation, Davison and Garmer uncovered an important information: the pattern of electrons bouncing off the nickel surface was determined not by its macroscopic atomic structure but by its crystal membrane. This discovery suggests wave behavior among the electrons rather than their classical particle-like nature.
In an interesting perspective, shortly after Davison and Germer’s invention, Alexander Reid and George Thomson entered the scientific stage with a paper of their own. Reid and Thomson’s contribution, published just two months after Davison and Garmer’s seminal work, proved and complemented the earlier discoveries, although through a different experimental approach. George Thomson, whose father was the eminent physicist J. J. Thomson, assisted in this effort, which added an interesting element to the story. Reed and Thomson’s paper used diffraction techniques, and led to an early understanding of the behavior of the electron. Their work, together with the work of Davison and Garmer, solidifies the notion that electrons exhibit wave-like properties when interacting with an object, challenging classical notions of diffusivity.
As a result of these early efforts, in 1937, Clinton Davison and George Thomson were awarded the Nobel Prize for their important contributions. This recognition further highlighted the importance of his work in clarifying the wave-particle duality of the electron and understanding its profound consequences for the field of quantum mechanics. The unexpected explosion of a bottle of liquid air in 1925 set off a chain of events that laid the lasting foundation for our understanding of the fundamental nature of the human element, laying the foundation for future advances in science and technology.