springer.com Biman B. Nath The Story of Helium and the Birth of Astrophysics Series: Astronomers' Universe Tells the true story behind the discovery of helium while explaining how the curiously distorted narrative of its discovery came into existence Includes interesting facts and anecdotes in the narrative, about the personalities of the scientists and the time in which they lived Explains the concepts behind the scientific adventures of the nineteenth century in clear and simple language What if one of the most thrilling stories in the history of science turned out to be wrong? Can urban legends creep into the hallowed grounds of scientific history? As incredible as it may sound, the story of one of the most important elements in modern times – helium - has been often misrepresented in books, encyclopedias, and online sources, despite the fact that archival 2013, XI, 274 p. 37 illus., 6 illus. in color. materials tell a different story. Open the entry for Helium in any encyclopaedia and you will read a false story that has been repeated over the years. ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’, for Printed book example, says that helium was discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Janssen while Softcover observing a total solar eclipse from India in 1868. Apparently he noticed something new in the 34,99 € | £29.99 | $44.99 spectrum of the sun, which he thought was the signature of an undiscovered element. The [1]37,44 € (D) | 38,49 € (A) | CHF truth is that Janssen never saw any sign of a new element during his observations in India. His 41,50 reports and letters do not mention any such claim. Other sources would have you believe that helium was jointly discovered by Janssen and Norman Lockyer, a British scientist, and that their eBook discovery letters reached Paris the same day, one sent from India, and the other from England. 28,88 € | £23.99 | $34.99 Again, the truth is completely different. Two letters from Lockyer and Janssen did reach Paris [2] 28,88 € (D) | 28,88 € (A) | CHF the same day in 1868, but their letters did not mention any new element. What they had 33,00 discovered was a new way of observing the Sun without a solar eclipse. Available from your library or springer.com/shop MyCopy [3] Printed eBook for just € | $ 24.99 springer.com/mycopy Error[en_EN | Export.Bookseller. MediumType | SE] Order online at springer.com / or for the Americas call (toll free) 1-800-SPRINGER / or email us at: [email protected]. / For outside the Americas call +49 (0) 6221-345-4301 / or email us at: [email protected]. The first € price and the £ and $ price are net prices, subject to local VAT. Prices indicated with [1] include VAT for books; the €(D) includes 7% for Germany, the €(A) includes 10% for Austria. Prices indicated with [2] include VAT for electronic products; 19% for Germany, 20% for Austria. All prices exclusive of carriage charges. Prices and other details are subject to change without notice. All errors and omissions excepted. [3] No discount for MyCopy. Part of .