This online article from Montgomery News in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania titled “Young Biologists Hit the Lab at Jeanes Library's Science in the Summer” mentions how young scientists entering the second and third grades attended a summer learning program and enhanced their learning by viewing feathers, coins and newspaper clippings with the aid of a magnifying glass and microscope. This four-day, corporate-sponsored course enabled students to learn about “bioscience, chemistry, genetics, oceanography and physical science.” The author of the article, Thomas Celona, goes on to describe how the children were very excited about viewing objects under magnification and participating in several experiments designed to expand their knowledge and understanding of science. Click here to read this interesting article.
July 1, 2010
This online article from the Columbia Daily Tribune in Columbia, Missouri titled “Build Your Collection Carefully” mentions how thimbles (antique finger guards) used to be given as gifts from men to potential brides. Years ago, wealthy women did decorative embroidery and other needlework as an everyday activity; however, embroidery was a popular pastime with many women. Today, collecting authentic antique thimbles is still an exciting part of the antique collector’s experience. The author of the article, Nancy Russell, goes on to describe how antique collectors should carry a magnifier to clearly view these small collectibles. Click here to read this interesting article.
June 2, 2010
This online article from the New York Times in New York City, New York titled “Terrariums Make a Comeback” mentions how the previously popular pastime of creating miniature gardens (i.e. terrariums) is making a comeback. Of particular note, people are using magnifying glasses to create and view these miniature garden wonders. Once created, these artists are selling these miniature gardens at places like the Brooklyn Flea, located in Brooklyn, New York. Magnifying glasses are used by the creators and purchasers of the terrariums to see all the intimate details of the garden scenes clearly. The author of the article, Emily Weinstein, goes on to describe how the terrariums of today are different than the terrariums of yesterday. And, she also mentions that creating terrariums is becoming popular because it does not require a person to have a great deal of gardening know-how. Click here to read this interesting article.
May 12, 2010
This online article from the PressofAtlanticCity.com in Atlantic City, New Jersey titled “Tyrannosaurus Rex may be Coming to New Jersey, Courtesy of Cape May Fossil Hunter” mentions how a state corrections officer who is an amateur fossil hunter (along with the curator of natural history at the New Jersey State Museum and his son) discovered vertebrae, rib and shoulder bones of the giant dinosaur lizard, T-Rex, while prospecting on federal land northeast of Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Although the bones belong to the United States Department of the Interior, the T-Rex dinosaur bones have been loaned to the New Jersey State Museum indefinitely. The amateur fossil hunter and his wife use magnifying glasses to help them see fossils and dinosaur bones logged in rocks. The author of the article, Michael Miller, mentions the prospectors intend to name the discovered T-Rex dinosaur specimen “Sandra Sue,” a two-part name to honor both of their wives. Click here to read this interesting article.
May 6, 2010
This online article from the San Clemente Times in Capistrano Beach, California titled “Belief Beyond Sight” mentions how an artist with a low-vision condition, macular degeneration, uses a magnifying glass “to increase her ability to see each brush stoke” of the visual wall art she creates and sells in a California studio. The author of the article, Heather Turney, describes how as the artist’s vision deteriorated, it enabled a new opportunity and creative outlet for the artist to produce several impressionist paintings. Click here to read this interesting article.
November 22, 2009
This online article from the San Francisco Chronicle in San Francisco, California titled “Rembrandt Etchings in Reno, Only Stop in West” mentions the Nevada Museum of Art will provide magnifying glasses to its patrons so they can see the fine details of the Rembrandt etchings on display. Scholars credit Rembrandt with creating more than 300 different etchings; however, only 100 of his etching will be on display at the Nevada Museum of Art. Subject matter on display will cover three general areas: Biblical stories; portraits; and landscapes. The author of the article, Mark S. Bacon, describes some of the processes Rembrandt used to create his intricately detailed etchings. Also, plan to spend two hours at the museum and please look closely—you just might miss something. Click here to read this interesting article.
November 21, 2009
This online article from Cincinnati.com in Cincinnati, Ohio titled “Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Offers Help to African Americans with Vision Loss” mentions how the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) Underserved Outreach Program raises the quality of life for local African American residents who lack appropriate access to medical services because they lack resources or are unaware of available services provided by CABVI. Many diseases like diabetes, hyper-tension, high cholesterol and macular degeneration can have a devastation effect on a person’s vision. One local resident mentioned her paperweight and lamp magnifiers make her life easier. The contributing author of the article, Crystal Kendrick, indicates the intent of the program is to promote independence for local African Americans who lack resources. Click here to read this interesting article.
October 25, 2009
This online article from The Baltimore Sun in Baltimore, Maryland titled “Old School Officer Leaving Quietly” mentions how Detective Roger Nolan always carried a magnifying glass to investigate crime scenes, even on his last case with the force. Detective Nolan graduated from the Baltimore Police Academy in 1968 and remained with the force for 42 years – he retired on October 26, 2009. Along with the magnifying glass, Detective Nolan embraced other modes of technology like DNA testing to help resolve unresolved “cold” cases. The author of the article, Peter Hermann, pays appropriate homage to the many years of successful police work by officers like Roger Nolan, and identifies the magnifying glass as one of the tools some police officers use to investigate crime scenes. Click here to read this interesting article.
October 2, 2009
This online posting from Access Atlanta (Inside Access) in Atlanta, Georgia titled "PHOTOS: High’s Leonardo da Vinci exhibit to open Oct. 6” mentions the great level of detail found in Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches. The exhibit, Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius, is sure to be exciting. According to the author of this posting, Jamie Gumbrecht of Inside Access, please be sure to pick up a magnifying glass on the way in to the exhibit so you can see and appreciate the great level of detail involved in the Leonardo de Vinci sketches. Click here to read this interesting posting.
July 5, 2009
This online article from the Tulsa World in Tulsa, Oklahoma titled "OSBI Lab Offers Glimpse of CSI” mentions how forensic scientists use a magnifier to determine if a finger print is a match to a crime scene or not. The author of the article, Tim Talley from the Associated Press, explains how along with many other forensic tools at the disposal of the forensic scientist, the magnifier is the important tool used to match the finger print(s) in question. As detailed in the article, unlike what we have seen on TV, the computer does not match finger prints, the forensic scientist (through the use of a magnifier) matches the finger print(s) to the crime scene. Click here to read this interesting article.
June 21, 2009
This online article from the Independent Investor of the Financial Post in Ontario, Canada titled "Beware the Sports-Card Shark” mentions how baseball cards can be easily forged and sold to an unsuspecting buyer. The author of the article, Richard Morrison, explains how the collector and purchaser’s careful inspection of baseball cards with a magnifying glass can help determine if a vintage baseball card is fake or real. Collectors are willing to pay significant sums of money for authentic baseball cards. In the article, Heritage Auction Galleries sold an authentic and extremely rare 1910 Honus Wagner baseball card to the winning bidder of one of its online auctions for $227,050. Click here to read this interesting article.
June 15, 2009
This online article from the Numismatic News of Krause Publications in Cincinnati, Ohio titled "1856-O Gold $20 Doubles its Prior Record” mentions how an 1856-O Gold $20 coin, the finest of its kind known to date, sold for a record auction price of $1,437,500 at the Long Beach Coin, Stamp and Collectible Expo on May 29, 2009. This special coin minted in New Orleans, Louisiana is considered a “Specimen,” and is extremely rare. The author of the article, Greg Reynolds, describes how a magnifying glass is required to determine if this valuable 1856-O Gold $20 coin (or any coin) reaches the “Specimen” status or not. Click here to read this interesting article.
June 7, 2009
This online article from Auctionbytes-Update, Number 240, of Steiner Associates LLC in Natick, Massachusetts titled "Collector’s Corner: Marbles” mentions that an estimated 400 million people around the world collect marbles. The author of the article, Michele Alice, describes how different manufacturing methods as well as how the condition, material composition and rarity determine the value of a agate or glass marble. In the article, a magnifying glass is used to conduct a detailed inspection of a marble to determine if the marble is hand-made or machine manufactured.
Click here to read this interesting article.
May 24, 2009
This news article from the San Francisco Chronicle in San Francisco, California titled "Museum to Bring Touch-up Work Out in the Open" mentions how a team of conservationists diligently works behind the scene to preserve artwork at the St Louis Art Museum. The author of the article, Betsy Taylor, describes how people are unaware of the level of effort a conservationist puts in to preserving art prior to display, and that the museum intends to allow people to observe this activity in the future. The article also mentions how the conservationists are able to conduct very close inspection of the art when they use a loupe, a microscope and/or a magnifying glass. Click here to read this interesting article.
May 22, 2009
This online post from the Charleston City Paper in Charleston, South Carolina titled "Contemporary Charleston at City Gallery" mentions how an artist uses magnifying glasses to enhance the display of his miniature art work. The author of the post, John Stoehr, describes how the artist displays fibers, wood and insects under a magnifying glass, enabling the viewer to see these items in great detail. Click here to read this interesting post.
May 18, 2009
This news article from The Dallas Daily News in Dallas, Texas titled "Secrecy Key as King Tut Exhibit Rolls Out of Dallas" mentions how a team of Egyptians from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo uses magnifying glasses during the disassembly process of the King Tut exhibit. The author of the article, Scott K. Parks, describes how the Egyptian team uses magnifying glasses under special lighting, other equipment and photographs taken before the exhibit opened during the disassembly process to ensure the priceless artifacts of the exhibit are the same ones provided before the exhibit opened. Click here to read this interesting article.
April 24, 2009
This news article from the Littleton Independent newspaper in Littleton, Massachusetts titled "Middle School Science Fair Brings an Inquisitive Crowd" mentions the science project of two eighth grade students. The author of the article, Betsy Levinson, describes how two eighth graders used a 500 watt solar light and a 10x power magnifying glass to conduct a successful solar experiment. Click here to read more about the science project of these two students from Littleton Middle School.
May 25, 2008
This news article from the New York Times titled "The Magnifying Glass Gets an Electronic Twist" mentions the impact a portable electronic magnifier can have on improving the everyday life of people with macular degeneration and other low vision conditions. The author of the article, Anne Eisenberg, describes the two main benefits portable electronic magnifiers have over traditional magnifying glasses are its ability to increase the contrast of the object being viewed and its ability to magnify the object significantly. Click here to read more about portable electronic magnifiers.
