Discovery of Astatine by Horia Hulubei

The search for new chemical elements was a prominent scientific endeavor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This era saw the discovery of several elements such as radium, polonium, and radon by prominent scientists such as Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford. Astatine was one of the missing elements from the periodic table, and its existence was predicted due to the periodicity of the elements, with iodine as its nearest stable neighbor. Scientists have sought to confirm its existence and properties. The discovery of astatine by Horia Hulubei and his collaborator Yvette Cauchois at the beginning of the 20th century is recognized by many scientists, although the authorship of this discovery was ignored by the Austrian radiochemist Friedrich Paneth, who was responsible for setting priorities in the discovery of new chemical elements. This article will delve into the historical background and scientific endeavors that led to the discovery of astatine by Horia Hulubei.

Tropaeum Augusti (France) and Tropaeum Traiani (Romania): A Comparative Study

Two Roman trophees, Tropaeum Augusti (or Trophée des Alpes) and Tropaeum Traiani, survived the time in France and Romania. They are considered to be the birth certificates of the French and Romanian peoples. The edifices, preserved in different ways over time, are particularly attractive tourist attractions in both countries. The two monuments are not only an ancient edifice dedicated to the victories of the Romans over the defeated peoples, but it is also a summum of scientific thought, of the age applied in the art of construction. The analysis of the technique of accomplishment of the two monuments highlights the Romans’ understanding in architecture. Moreover, the two monuments stand out for the same destiny. The two edifices outline the history of the two countries. The architects applied the principles set up by Vitruvius Pollio in De Architecture. The restoration works of the trophees from La Turbie and Adamclisi are emblematic. The trophies dedicated to Augustus and Trajan signify the honors devoted to the two emperors; the Romans attributed them the feeling of the deity, so that the fate of the emperors is assimilated as sons of God, promised to be divine. Both trophies record the deeds of their heroes.

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