Rene Reaumur French naturalist Date of Birth: 28.02.1683 Country: France

1. Biography of Rene Reaumur
2. The Revolutionary Spider Silk
3. A Universal Scientist
4. The Mysterious Transforming Force
5. A Broad Range of Interests
6. The Power of Knowledge

Biography of Rene Reaumur

Rene Reaumur, a French naturalist, is often associated with the invention of the alcohol thermometer and the unsuccessful temperature scale. However, he was primarily a biologist, and his six-volume work "Memoirs on the Natural History of Insects" is considered a model of conscientious scientific research.

The Revolutionary Spider Silk

In 1710, the president of the French Chamber of Accounts in Montpellier, Monsieur Boch, presented to the Academy of Sciences stockings and gloves made from the silk of a cross spider. They were distinguished by their beauty, lightness, and unusual durability. Grand plans for the widespread use of spider silk immediately arose. However, only one scientist was able to cool the enthusiasm of the dreamy academics. Rene Reaumur meticulously calculated that it would take 663,552 spiders to produce one pound of such yarn.

A Universal Scientist

Rene Reaumur is often associated with the invention of the alcohol thermometer and the unsuccessful temperature scale. However, he was primarily a biologist, and his six-volume work "Memoirs on the Natural History of Insects" is considered a model of conscientious scientific research. But it would be more accurate to say that Reaumur was a universal scientist, a phenomenon so rare in our time.

The Mysterious Transforming Force

Rene Reaumur's defining characteristic was his obsession with the mysterious transforming force responsible for changes in the living and non-living world. He conducted a strange experiment, feeding meat enclosed in iron capsules with numerous holes to birds of prey. After some time, the capsules came out without any meat. This completely overturned scientists' understanding of how the stomach works, which was then believed to be solely responsible for mechanically crushing food. Upon Reaumur's suggestion, his colleague, naturalist Lazarus Spallanzani, proved the digestive effect of gastric juice.

A Broad Range of Interests

Reaumur's wide range of interests allowed him to work at the intersection of different fields of knowledge. For example, while studying wasps, he discovered that they used plant fibers to construct their nests, and the resulting material closely resembled cardboard. This led Reaumur to the idea that paper should be made from wood rather than old clothes, as was commonly done in Europe at the time. Additionally, his study of the freezing processes of substances led Reaumur to invent a new method of making ice cream, which was known for its exceptional smoothness.

The Power of Knowledge

Reaumur never found his mysterious transforming force, but he proved through his life that knowledge is the most powerful transforming force in nature.