'A Professor, a President, and a Meteor: The Birth of American Science'

Yale professor's little-known story reveals crucial collision of scientific discovery and politics 
Cathryn J. Prince is the author of "A Professor, a President, and a Meteor: The Birth of American Science. "
When a fiery meteor crash in 1807 lit up the dark early-morning sky in Weston, Connecticut, it did more than startle the few farmers in the sleepy village—it sparked the curiosity of Benjamin Silliman, a young chemistry professor at nearby Yale College. His rigorous investigation of the incident sparked a chain of events that eventually brought the once-low standing of American science to sudden international prominence. And, by coincidence, it also embroiled Silliman in politics, pitting him against no less an adversary than President...MORE