al-mofhariz

The physicalness of the internet has been all up-in-our-faces these last couple days: a nation, it turns out, can just unplug itself , and corporate citizens of the world's great democracies help out. [See, however, Vodafone's current explanation .] The Atlantic has a fascinating piece on the infrastructure of the internet . All that data travels through relatively few nodes, it seems. Why some nodes and not others? Undoubtedly the answer is history. I can't help but think of that first trans-atlantic cable .

Many of you may know the previous incarnation (in-Web-nation?) of Clark Elliot's extraordinary database on the history and historiography of American science. It has just received a face-lift and is better than ever. Check it out here . I am particularly impressed by the 19th century chronologies, which are even complete enough to note the foundation of the US's first permanent agricultural society. See for yourself .