Good morning.

Our week in Whitewater ends with mostly cloudy skies and a high of twenty-one. There’s high probability (about 80%) of about an inch of snow overnight tonight.

On this day in 1953, one of the most profound discoveries of biology:

Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.

Though DNA–short for deoxyribonucleic acid–was discovered in 1869, its crucial role in determining genetic inheritance wasn’t demonstrated until 1943. In the early 1950s, Watson and Crick were only two of many scientists working on figuring out the structure of DNA. California chemist Linus Pauling suggested an incorrect model at the beginning of 1953, prompting Watson and Crick to try and beat Pauling at his own game. On the morning of February 28, they determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which became the template for a new double helix. In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby Eagle Pub and blurting out that “we had found the secret of life.” The truth wasn’t that far off, as Watson and Crick had solved a fundamental mystery of science–how it was possible for genetic instructions to be held inside organisms and passed from generation to generation.

Watson and Crick’s solution was formally announced on April 25, 1953, following its publication in that month’s issue of Nature magazine. The article revolutionized the study of biology and medicine. Among the developments that followed directly from it were pre-natal screening for disease genes; genetically engineered foods; the ability to identify human remains; the rational design of treatments for diseases such as AIDS; and the accurate testing of physical evidence in order to convict or exonerate criminals.

Crick and Watson later had a falling-out over Watson’s book, which Crick felt misrepresented their collaboration and betrayed their friendship. A larger controversy arose over the use Watson and Crick made of research done by another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin, whose colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray photographic work to Watson just before he and Crick made their famous discovery. When Crick and Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962, they shared it with Wilkins. Franklin, who died in 1958 of ovarian cancer and was thus ineligible for the award, never learned of the role her photos played in the historic scientific breakthrough.

Google-a-Day poses a pop culture question dependent on a few links of association:

What furniture company is owned by the family of the husband of the actress who played the role of Lizzie McGuire?

Good morning.

Thursday will be sunny and cold, with a high of six degrees. Sunrise today is 6:34 AM and sunset 5:42 PM. The moon is a waning crescent with just four percent of its visible disk illuminated.

The Tech Park Board meets at 8 AM, and the Fire & Rescue Task Force at 6 PM.

It’s John Steinbeck‘s 112th birthday, and Google has an interactive doodle in commemoration.

On this day in 1904, Wisconsin sees the loss of her capitol building to fire:

1904 – Second State Capitol Burns
On this date fire destroyed the second State Capitol building in Madison. On the evening of the 26th, the generator was turned off for the night. The only lights visible were two gas jets serving the night watchman. At approximately 2 a.m., night watchman Nat Crampton smelled smoke and followed the odor to a recently varnished ceiling, already in flames. A second watchman arrived to assist, but there was no water pressure with which to operate a hose. The fire department encountered a similar situation upon arrival. Governor Robert M. La Follette telegraphed fire departments in Janesville and Milwaukee for assistance. La Follette was at the capitol, directing efforts to douse the fire and entering the burning building to retrieve valuable papers. The fire was completely extinguished by 10 p.m. the next day. Losses were estimated to be close to $1 million.

Google-a-Day asks about an actress:

Who played, Delores, the girlfriend of the eponymous lead character in the mostly-true Tim Burton film about the legendary director of notoriously bad movies?

Good morning.

We’ll have a sunny day in Whitewater with a high of about nine degrees.

Downtown Whitewater’s board meets this morning at 8 AM. This afternoon, the Seed Capital Screening Committee meets at 4 PM, and the CDA board at 5:30 PM.

On this day in 1912, activists of Rock County form a suffrage organization:

1912 – Rock County Women’s Suffrage League Formed
On this date local women met at the library and formed the Rock County Women’s Suffrage League. The group elected Mrs. A.P. Lovejoy as their president. [Source: Janesville Gazette]

Google-a-Day asks about a reptile’s name:

What does the name given to the Aldabra giant tortoise, considered one of the longest-living animals on record at the time of his death, mean in English?

Good morning.

Whitewater will have a partly sunny day with a high of thirteen.

This afternoon, at 4:30 PM, Whitewater’s Urban Forestry Commission meets. At 6:00 PM, there will be a joint Common Council – Planning Commission meting to conduct a public hearing on the commercial provisions of the Zoning Re-write project.

On this day in 1862, at Camp Randall, there a demonstration of advances in artillery:

1862 – (Civil War) New Cannon Demonstrated at Camp Randall
James Loom exhibited a new breech-loading cannon at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin The cannon was said to be effectively discharged 50 times in four minutes.

Google-a-Day has a question about NASA:

Of the five space shuttles, which one flew the most missions?

Good morning.

Monday will be an increasingly cloudy day with a high of twenty.

Of local government, the Board of Canvass meets today following last Tuesday’s Spring Primary voting in the Fourth Council District, during which they will select candidates for the April 1st general election.

On 2.24.1868, the House of Representatives impeaches Pres. Andrew Johnson over his removal of Sec. of War Edwin Stanton. Here’s now the New York Times reported the impeachment (Johnson was later acquitted in the Senate):

The first act in the great civil drama of the nineteenth century is concluded. Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, stands impeached of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” It is of no use to argue whether his acts were right or wrong, whether the law he violated is constitutional or otherwise, or whether it is good or bad policy to proceed to this extreme. The House of Representatives, with a full realization of all the possible consequences, has solemnly decided that he shall be held to account in the manner prescribed by the Constitution for his alleged misdemeanors, and, be the result what it may, the issue is made. It must be met without delay, and the first step is already complete.

I’ll bring back Google-a-Day for a bit, as a change of pace. Here’s Monday’s Google-a-Day question:

At what school did the man who was the great grandson of one president and the grandson of another president become a history professor in the 1870’s?

Good morning.

Sunday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny, with a high of twenty-two. Moderate winds will produce wind chill values near zero for the day.

On 2.23.1954, doctors in Pittsburgh begin the first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine. After this, a crippling and killing disease slowly, and irreversibly, loosens its grip.

On this day in 1846, a malted milk magnate, and later philanthropist, is born:

1846 – William Horlick Born
On this date William Horlick was born in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England. A noted food manufacturer and philanthopist, Horlick arrived in the U.S. in 1869 and settled in Racine.

In 1872 he moved to Chicago with his brother and began to manufacture food products. In 1876 his company moved to Racine where he began to experiment with creating a dried milk product. In 1887 he trademarked Malted Milk. In 1889 he opened a company branch in New York City and another in England the following year. He constructed additional plants in Racine in 1902 and 1905.

The company name was changed to Horlick’s Malted Milk Co. in 1906. This success enabled Horlick to achieve a widespread reputation as a philanthropist in Racine.

He also helped fund the first Byrd expedition to the South Pole and the Amundsen expedition to the North Pole. After his death in 1936, control of the company passed to his son, Ander James Horlick. [Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography, SHSW 1960, pg. 177]

Good morning.

Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high of twenty-seven.

The results of yesterday’s poll are now in, on the question of whether Lykoi cats are preferable. I like cats, and even I had only a mild yes to the question, but 75% of respondents voted against them. So, they’re probably not destined to be the hot cat variety of the twenty-first century, one supposes.

One commenter said that they look like Eddie Munster.

Sure enough, I do see a resemblance…

On this day in 1980, the United States defeats the Soviets in Olympic hockey, for one of the most memorable upsets in that sport’s history.

(These recent years, of course, it’s been Canada that’s been Olympic hockey’s dominant team.)

In Wisconsin history on this day in 1950, a committee begins investigating Sen. Joe McCarthy’s allegations of Communism in the U.S. government:

1950 – McCarthy Committee Formed to Investigate Red Scare
On this date, at the suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Scott Lucas, the five-member Tyding Committee was created. This group was a subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee and was charged with the sole purpose of investigating Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy’s accusations of communist activities. [Source: Fox Valley Turning Points]