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Ben Franklin Stilled the Waves: An Informal History of Pouring Oil on Water With Reflections on the Ups and Downs of Scientific Life in General

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Charles Tanford's writing reveals the infectious joy of a scholar who spent his lifetime in pursuit of solutions to scientific myths and mysteries. In this pithy book written for serious scientists and curious non-scientists alike, Tanford focuses on the phenomena of 'stilling waves by pouring oil' studied most famously by Benjamin Franklin among others. The author shows that Ben franklin had read the related observations from Pliny the elder, that encyclopedia-maker from the heydays of Roman Empire, who noted "all sea water is made smooth by oil." Pliny the elder also features in some stories by Borges, for Pliny was a collector of received knowledge, which Pliny compiled without bothering to check the accuracy (or absurdity) of the itemized entries into his large collection of facts and fantasies.

Unlike Pliny, Benjamin Franklin had a penchant for scientific method, and he made careful observations, comparisons, and notes of his experiments, methods and results. This 18th century American scientist and statesman was a master printer and a self-taught scientist. Ben Franklin is also famous for his contributions to the field of electricity, and for devising the lighting rod and investigating the presence of electricity in atmosphere with his legendary kite-experiment. Tanford recreates for us the world of Ben Franklin, to put his contributions into perspective. It is not too easy for us to appreciate how the concepts like electricity or surface tension or composition of elements and compounds and even existence of oxygen were quite undeveloped during the time of Franklin. It is utterly mind-boggling to learn that all his contributions to science were of an amateur, and he spent most of his time as diplomat, facing all the ups and downs of that profession.

After Ben Franklin, the true Lord of the polyglots of the scientific world, Lord Rayleigh, entered the field a hundred and twenty years later. Ben Franklin had observed that a teaspoon of olive oil spread over an area of half an acre; Lord Rayleigh used this (and similar experiment) to calculate the size of a single molecule of olive oil, to be 2 nm, providing one of the first estimates of the molecular size. Tanford retraces the trajectory of Lord Rayleigh's life, just like he does for Ben Franklin. Along the way, we encounter some of the most famous scientists of nineteenth century, and we learn of Lord Rayleigh's great contributions to science, as well as his modesty, kindness and generosity. A particular example of this generosity is the case of Miss Pockels, whose investigations on oil layers on water were conducted primarily in her kitchen sink. Lord Rayleigh treated a letter from Miss Pockels with utmost respect and forwarded a translation to Nature (journal) for publication. Pockel's trough is quite similar to Langmuir's trough, the former measured surface tension, the latter measures a related quantity called surface pressure.

Langmuir, who is the next hero in this saga, went on to win Nobel prize for his "discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry." While Tanford provides us with the requisite fundamental concepts to appreciate the concepts relevant to the 'in-depth' discussion about surface science, the eccentricities of the personalities involved in the research makes the process of discovery both human and dramatic. Education through entertainment is a blessing in disguise, and this book provides us with ample material for both. The book closes with some discussion on the lipid bilayers and cell membranes, showing how the ideas of surface science are of fundamental importance in biological world as well as in the protein science. To fully appreciate the history of proteins, we must read another classic by Tanford, called Nature's Robots. To see the important role of surface science, one only need to remember the following: we are 70% water and most of the rest is oil-like; our every living moment and living cells involves contributions from surface science without our knowing it.

When Oscar Wilde said "We live in a world of surfaces" he had no idea, (one can say that with some assurance) of the revolutions in surface science that would follow in the twentieth century. While our ability to examine and understand interfacial phenomena has improved considerably since the times of Ben Franklin, Lord Rayleigh, Miss Pockels and Langmuir, there is a certain old world charm, a sense of discovery, the beauty of simple but profound thought or experiment captured by the sagas that enfold in this book. Invention, intuition and pleasure of finding things out can lead to groundbreaking ideas and conclusions without the need for expensive instrumentation or advanced educational degree. Tanford succeeds in making this scientific narrative similar to a charming odyssey. Here inspirational characters are ever present, and once you have read this story, you will ever live with a sense or knowledge that for a perceptive and prepared mind, answers and discoveries appear in kitchen sinks, in a spoonful of oil, in the most unexpected places. Definitely recommended to all curious and creative scientists / human beings!