Historical Scientific Experiments

Archival footage showing scientists conducting experiments and research in early to mid-20th-century labs, capturing the essence of scientific inquiry.

Close-up man trying to open fuming test tube

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Researchers check the setup of a multi-nozzle base flow model in the 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Electric motorpump for "Fenix".

Dr H. 'Chuck' Klein (l) with Dr R. Young looking into the Mars box (simulator), which simulated the environment of Mars for the preparation of life sciences experiments for the Viking lander.

Scientist sitting at microscope.

S73-31705 (1 Aug. 1973) --- The three Skylab 3 crewmen are shown eating in the Orbital Workshop (OWS) wardroom of the Skylab space station in Earth orbit, in this photographic reproduction taken from a television transmission made by a color TV camera aboard the OWS. Astronaut Alan L. Bean (right), commander, illustrates eating under zero-gravity conditions upsidedown. The two other crewmen are scientist-astronaut Owen K. Garriott (left), science pilot; and astronaut Jack R. Lousma, pilot.

Experimental Model of Army's V-T fuse fits man's hand-here is picture of the experimental model of the Army's new VT fuse which was devel ***** at the university of Florida under a secret contract, according to Dr. Ralph A. Morgan, assistant director of the War research lab at the University. The distinguishing feature of the fuse is its small size, made possible because it carries it own wind generating plant instead of battery as previously used. Wind is forced in hole in front as shell speeds though air, the handle-like ring in front is antenna for the complete radio sending and receiving set which explodes shell given number of feet before target. October 09, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

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Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Test Activities. Project 3.11 damage to south end door, reinforced steel bldg, post-ENCORE. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.

Electrolux laboratory. Experiment. Diffusion examinations.

Anefo photo collection. Recording of the moon by Surveyor from TV. June 2, 1966

Ken Baskin, an engineer from the Facilities and Engineering Branch at the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations

WILLIAM H. CHRISTIE AT 60-INCH TELESCOPE ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPH.

Dr. W.F. Wallis looking through a Magnemometer circa 1936.

Anefo photo collection. American astronauts on the moon; Images from TV. Presenter Henk Terlingen. July 21, 1969

Wichita, Kansas: 1959. Test models of Douglas Aircraft Skybolt missiles nestle under a B-52 wing at Boeing Aircraft's Wichita Division. They were to be hypersonic air to surface ballistic missiles with nuclear capability, but were eventually scrapped in favor of the newly developed submarine based Polaris missile in 1962, by Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense under President John Kennedy

Anefo photo collection. American astronauts on the moon; Images from TV. The figures for the countdown on 16 July 1969. July 21, 1969

Mad scientist (OV2023_138)

The Pasteur Institute, Kasauli, India: scientists at work in a laboratory. Photograph, ca. 1910.

Visitors view skeletons of people and animals in the reconstructed theatrum anatomicum; Leiden University exhibition 400..

Engineer Paul Reader and his colleagues take environmental measurements during testing of a 20-inch diameter ion engine in a vacuum tank at the Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL). Researchers at the Lewis Research Center were investigating the use of a permanent-magnet circuit to create the magnetic field required power electron bombardment ion engines. Typical ion engines use a solenoid coil to create this magnetic field. It was thought that the substitution of a permanent magnet would create a comparable magnetic field with a lower weight. Testing of the magnet system in the EPL vacuum tanks revealed no significant operational problems. Reader found the weight of the two systems was similar, but that the thrusters efficiency increased with the magnet. The EPL contained a series of large vacuum tanks that could be used to simulate conditions in space. Large vacuum pumps reduced the internal air pressure, and a refrigeration system created the cryogenic temperatures found in space.

Dr. Dean R. Chapman a Ames Research Center scientists studing tektits, holding a simulated tektite created in the Ames arc jet facility (left) and authentic Australian tektite over a map of Australia.

Manometer Board Setup in Supersonic Wind Tunnel

Explorer XVII Satellite

Low angle view of a planetarium projector, Zeiss Projector, Hayden Planetarium, Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

The internal design of the mechanical and rusty clock in a larger view. Vintage clock mechanism

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Anefo photo collection. American astronauts on the moon; Images from TV. The space center in Houston: control room. July 21, 1969

United States: c. 1913 A scene from an early silent movie with an apparently mad scientist in his lab.

Female computers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory copy pressure readings from rows of manometers below the 18- by 18-inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel. The computers obtained test data from the manometers and other instruments, made the initial computations, and plotted the information graphically. Based on these computations, the researchers planned their next test or summarized their findings in a report. Manometers were mercury-filled glass tubes that were used to indicate different pressure levels from inside the test facility or from the test article. Manometers look and function very similarly to thermometers. Dozens of pressure sensing instruments were installed for each test. Each was connected to a manometer tube located inside the control room. The mercury inside the manometer rose and fell with the pressure levels. The dark mercury can be seen in this photograph at different levels within the tubes. Since this activity wa

View of STS Discovery

A technician experiments on a laser in the Aerospace Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command. Country: Unknown

Scientist working in his lab

Langley's human computers at work in 1947. The female presence at Langley, who performed mathematical computations for male staff. -- Photograph published in Winds of Change, 75th Anniversary NASA publication (page 48), by James Schultz.

Visitors view skeletons of people and animals in the reconstructed theatrum anatomicum; Leiden University exhibition 400..

12/31/1959. Detail of the laboratory with the microscope with which Ramón y Cajal usually worked.

Marie and Pierre Curie in their laboratory, Paris. Photograph, ca. 1900.

Blancard, Hippolyte (1843 - D.1924), exhibition of 1889. Collective exhibition of the pharmacy, 7th arrondissement, Paris. (Dummy title), 1889. Platinum draw. Carnavalet museum, history of Paris.

Woman holding beakers in research laboratory.

Photograph of a LASER FOR SPACE Gas-filled electronic device whose first job will be to greatly sharpen the accuracy of a new space tracking radar is fired up by an engineer at Sperry Rand's Electronic Tube Division laboratories in Great Neck, N. Y. Called a helium-neon laser

Elsevier photo collection. Exhibition Tropenmuseum Amsterdam sign Bible. mummy coffin found Egypt time Exodus approx. 1200 v. Chr. 25, 1964. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

JERRY LEWIS in THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963), directed by JERRY LEWIS.

Chester Burleigh Watts turning back the hands of a clock at the Naval Observatory in 1918 (possibly in honor of the first Daylight Savings Time) .

At the Frey scientist in the workshop

Scientist looking through microscope with U-235 (Uranium Isotope) projected on the wall

Anefo photo collection. Exhibition of archaeological finds in the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Excavations, archeology, museums, exhibitions. July 19, 1979. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

A scientist makes a streptomycin assay at the Agricultural Experimental Station, Rutgers University, New Jersey. Streptomycin is a bacterial antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis. An assay is the determination of the biological for pharmacological potency of a drug.

NASA EXHIBIT AT THE SEATTLE WORLDS FAIR SEATTLE WASHINGTON, June 1962

Academy of Sciences, voice control ca. between 1910 and 1935.

A810411 U12G RS-15 ARMING & INSTALLATION ROD SHEAR (Project Engineer) JUN 29 81 EG&G/NTS PHOTO LAB Publication Date: 6/29/1981 A&I; ARMING & INSTALLATION; EDGERTON, GERMESHAUSEN & GRIER; EG&G; EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS; G-TUNNEL; GLOVES; INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT; MALE; MAN (ADD MALE MODIFIER); NEVADA; NEVADA TEST SITE; NTS; NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY; NUCLEAR TESTING; NUCLEAR TESTS; RS-15; RS-15 ARMING & INSTALLATION; SHEAR, ROD C; SPHERES; TABLES; TEST SITES; UGT; UNDERGROUND TESTING historical images. 1972 - 2012. Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration. Photographs Related to Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site.

A Smith Mark 6 Ultrasonic Flaw Detector being used to inspect three inch plate destined for use at an Atomic Power Station.

A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery. From a print by William Pether, after a painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. 18th century. To quote Wikipedia, "An orrery is a mechanical model of the Solar Sy

A801368 U3GV BONARDA PRESSURE AND PADDLE GAGES JAMES I GREENWOLL AUG 13 80 EG&G/NTS PHOTO LAB Publication Date: 8/13/1980 BONARDA TEST; EDGERTON, GERMESHAUSEN & GRIER; EG&G; EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS; GREENWOLL, JAMES I; HOSES, AIR; INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT; NEVADA; NEVADA TEST SITE; NTS; NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY; NUCLEAR TESTING; NUCLEAR TESTS; PRESSURE & PADDLE GAGES; SHAFT TEST; TEST SITES; TESTING; U3GV; UGT; UNDERGROUND TESTING; WEAPON EFFECTS; WEAPONS RELATED; WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY historical images. 1972 - 2012. Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration. Photographs Related to Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site.

Man setting a clock (EV006311_H)

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