Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 176, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1911 — FOLLIES OF SCIENCE. [ARTICLE]

FOLLIES OF SCIENCE.

Beven Problems That Have 80 Far Baffled Man's Mighty Brain. The history of science has seven problems tbat men in ail ages more or less have tried to solve, but which have finally been given up by all. Today they are called follies. • The usual list comprises tbe following: First squaring tbe circle; second, duplication of the cube; third, trisection of an angle: fourth, perpetual motion; fifth, transmutation of metals; sixth, fixation of mercury; seventh, elixir of life. Some lists put tbe philosopher’s stone for the last three and then add astrology and magic to make the seven. TcLthe unlearned It would seem possible to draw a square which shall be exactly equal in area to a given circle, which is tbe first problem in tbe list, but we are told by tbe highest authorities that it Is impossible. Since the discovery of radium it is claimed that tbe change of one metal into another has been accomplished, but It is yet too early to dogmatize about the matter.—Chicago Journal.