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From the collection A tube used to measure absorptive powers of gases

History of science

John Tyndall’s radiant heat apparatus

In 1859, discovered the Greenhouse Effect using this tube amongst a collection of apparatus by measuring the absorptive powers

John Tyndall’s radiant heat apparatus Read more
From the collection An etching of a lecture given in 1802, depicting Thomas Young or Thomas Garnett giving laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to Sir John Hippisley

History of science

New Discoveries in Pneumaticks

Or: An Experimental Lecture on the Powers of Air, a historic cartoon by James Gillray, 1802.

New Discoveries in Pneumaticks Read more
From the collection A montage of William Bragg's spectrometer from three different angles

History of science

William Bragg's spectrometer

William Henry Bragg designed and built the first ionization spectrometer in 1912-13. By measuring the scattering of x-rays

William Bragg's spectrometer Read more
From the collection iron filings on a blue background

History of science

Michael Faraday's iron filings

Faraday created a number of iron filing diagrams in 1851 to demonstrate magnetic lines of force.

Michael Faraday's iron filings Read more
Blog A painting of the exterior of the Royal Institution building

History of science

Timeline of the Ri

Explore the history of the Ri with this interactive timeline.

Timeline of the Ri Read more
From the collection The blue sky apparatus

History of science

John Tyndall's blue sky apparatus

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? The answer was first discovered over 150 years ago right here at the Royal

John Tyndall's blue sky apparatus Read more
From the collection Detail of Alessandro Volta's voltaic pile

History of science

Alessandro Volta's voltaic pile

The first electrical battery, invented by Volta in 1800 in Genoa, Italy. This voltaic pile, made before 1813, was presented to

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From the collection Two views of James Dewar's vacuum flask - one from straight on, one from above

History of science

James Dewar's vacuum flask

Dewar’s first-ever vacuum flask. Created in 1892 to hold liquefied gases at extremely low temperatures, this object is the

James Dewar's vacuum flask Read more
From the collection Gold colloids in a glass container

History of science

Michael Faraday's gold colloids

These liquids are some of the first examples of metallic gold colloids, made by Michael Faraday over 150 years ago.

Michael Faraday's gold colloids Read more
From the collection A composite of Humphry Davy's miners' safety lamp, from three different angles

History of science

Humphry Davy's miners' safety lamp

The first ever prototype of Davy’s miner’s safety lamp. Created in 1815, it prevented the methane gas present in the depths of

Humphry Davy's miners' safety lamp Read more

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