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The last couple of times I wrote about museums on this blog (here and here), I was at least somewhat critical.  So I’m pleased to report a really positive museum visit. The Jardin des Plantes is one of the more popular visitor attractions in Paris, especially on a lovely spring day (like last Sunday, when I was there).  It's been a centre for the study of botany since the 17th century, but it was under the stewardship of the Comte de Buffon (from 1739 until his death in 178

I spend a lot of time trying to imagine what it must have been like for a medieval astronomer to use an astrolabe.  It’s tricky.  Apart from all the things we might not know, like precisely who used them and why, there’s another major problem: light pollution.  Even in a small city like Cambridge the street lights blot out all but the brightest stars. Which is why I was blown away when I saw this picture: It is by French artist Thierry Cohen.  Here’s what his website says abo