The Seven Follies of Science [2nd ed.] / A popular account of the most famous scientific impossibilities and the attempts which have been made to solve them. To which is added a small budget of interesting paradoxes, illusions, and marvels

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BY JOHN PHIN

PREFACE

CONTENTS

THE SEVEN FOLLIES OF SCIENCE

I. SQUARING THE CIRCLE

II THE DUPLICATION OF THE CUBE

III THE TRISECTION OF AN ANGLE

IV PERPETUAL MOTION

V TRANSMUTATION OF THE METALS

VI THE FIXATION OF MERCURY

VII THE UNIVERSAL MEDICINE AND THE ELIXIR OF LIFE

ADDITIONAL "FOLLIES"

PERPETUAL OR EVER-BURNING LAMPS

THE ALKAHEST OR UNIVERSAL SOLVENT

PALINGENESY

THE POWDER OF SYMPATHY

A SMALL BUDGET OF PARADOXES, ILLUSIONS, AND MARVELS

THE FOURTH DIMENSION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW SENSE AND NEW SENSE-ORGAN

HOW A SPACE MAY BE APPARENTLY ENLARGED BY CHANGING ITS SHAPE

CAN A MAN LIFT HIMSELF BY THE STRAPS OF HIS BOOTS?

HOW A SPIDER LIFTED A SNAKE

HOW THE SHADOW MAY BE MADE TO MOVE BACKWARD ON THE SUN-DIAL

HOW A WATCH MAY BE USED AS A COMPASS

MICROGRAPHY OR MINUTE WRITING AND MICROPHOTOGRAPHY

ILLUSIONS OF THE SENSES

OBJECTS APPARENTLY SEEN THROUGH A HOLE IN THE HAND

LOOKING THROUGH A SOLID BRICK

CURIOUS ARITHMETICAL PROBLEMS

THE CHESS-BOARD PROBLEM

THE NAIL PROBLEM

A QUESTION OF POPULATION

HOW TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE

THE ACTUAL COST AND PRESENT VALUE OF THE FIRST FOLIO SHAKESPEARE

ARITHMETICAL PUZZLES

ARCHIMEDES AND HIS FULCRUM

INDEX

A
POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THE MOST FAMOUS
SCIENTIFIC IMPOSSIBILITIES
AND THE ATTEMPTS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE TO SOLVE THEM.

To which is Added a Small Budget of Interesting
Paradoxes, Illusions, and Marvels.

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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