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News and Views

1927; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 119; Issue: 2992 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/119362a0

1476-4687

Quantum Mechanics and Applications

To-DAY is the centenary of the deaths of Volta and Laplace, who both died on Mar. 5, 1827, Volta being eighty-two years old and Laplace seventy-seven Though in intellectual power Laplace was probably far superior to Volta, it may be that the electrical discoveries and inventions of Volta have had a greater effect upon the progress of civilisation than the profounder studies of Laplace. Each, however, in his own sphere did work which will cause his name to be recalled so long as science is studied. Volta's great contribution to science, the Voltaic pile, was made known in 1799, and that year also marked the publication of Laplace's immortal work “Mécanique Celeste.”