Thread: In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue...

I watched a documentary recently on how they eventually did calculate the Earth's diameter. A team of French scientists travelled to Peru. After years of scaling the mountains and triangulating measurements between markers they painstakingly put on the peaks of each mountain in a designated range of topography, they were able to calculate one degree of longitude, I believe, and compare that to an existing measurement. Then they solved for x and confirmed Newton's hypothesis about the Earth being more grapefruit-shaped than spherical. That's why they travelled to the equator.

During their trip, Charles Marie de La Condamine discovered not only rubber, but pioneered the Metric system.

But most importantly of all, he learned the importance of friendship.

(I made that last one up)

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

But most importantly of all, he learned the importance of friendship.

(I made that last one up)

Or cribbed it off the last sentence of practically every summary note for kids' fiction in the library catalog. (I catalog some of those, among other things ... I know too well whereof I speak.)

~Rich