19th century Memes

Posts tagged with 19th century

Matter Is Composed Of Pudding

Matter Is Composed Of Pudding
19th century physicists waking up and casually inventing wildly inaccurate atomic models before breakfast! J.J. Thomson's "plum pudding model" was literally just positive charge with electrons stuck in it like raisins in dessert. Imagine building your entire understanding of matter on a snack! "Hmm, this scone looks sciency, I'll base my groundbreaking theory on it." And yet these guys got Nobel Prizes while the rest of us can't even get credit for fixing the office printer.

The Prime Number Catastrophe

The Prime Number Catastrophe
GASP! The mathematical HORROR! Claiming 1 is prime is like showing up to a chemistry lab wearing socks and sandals—absolutely forbidden! The number 1 was actually considered prime until the late 19th century, when mathematicians collectively decided "nope, too chaotic" and kicked it out of the prime number club. By definition, prime numbers need EXACTLY two distinct divisors: 1 and themselves. Poor little 1 only has itself as a divisor, making it the mathematical equivalent of trying to high-five yourself in public. Your professor's disgust is completely warranted—they've probably had nightmares about this very scenario!

From Optimism To Existential Crisis: 19th Century Chemistry

From Optimism To Existential Crisis: 19th Century Chemistry
Excited about discovering new compounds? That enthusiasm evaporates real quick when your 1855 boss casually asks you to synthesize quinine with zero instructions, equipment from the stone age, and probably while huffing mercury vapors for breakfast. The transformation from optimistic scientist to hollow-eyed nightmare fuel is chemistry's version of before/after photos. Historical chemists were basically alchemists with slightly better PR—mixing random substances and hoping they didn't die in the process!