"Unveiling the Construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge a Century Ago"

As the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it's fascinating to take a trip down memory lane and revisit how the iconic landmark was taking shape a century ago. According to an article published in Nature on March 29, 1924, the contract for the bridge had been placed, and some intriguing details had emerged about its design and construction.

The bridge was to be an engineering marvel, with a single arch of 1650 feet span, making it the largest arch bridge in the world. The total length of the steel arch and approach spans was to be 3770 feet, dwarfing the nearest competitor, which had a span of about 1000 feet. The bridge's massive scale was necessitated by the need for rail and roadway accommodation, resulting in a total width of 150 feet. The main span was to be of exceptionally massive construction, and it was believed that the bridge would have the heaviest single span in the world.

The manufacturing of the heavy steel plates required for the bridge's construction was to take place in Middlesbrough, with the whole of the material being assembled in special workshops on the site. The bridge was a testament to the engineering prowess of the time, and its completion was eagerly awaited by the people of New South Wales.

Coincidentally, an article published in Nature on March 29, 1974, highlighted the scientific progress made in the field of superconductivity, which was discovered in 1911. The article reviewed a book titled "Superconductive Tunnelling and Applications" by L. Solymar, which provided a comprehensive overview of the first decade of research on superconductive tunnelling.

The book was described as a "Michelin green guide" to the field, offering a two-paragraph introduction to the history of a particular château and a complete reference list of nearly 103 entries for the reader who wanted to delve deeper. The review concluded that the book was an excellent resource for anyone interested in the field of superconductivity and its applications.

The two articles, published 50 and 100 years ago, respectively, provide a fascinating glimpse into the scientific and engineering achievements of their time. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was still under construction a century ago, has become an iconic landmark and an enduring symbol of human ingenuity and perseverance. At the same time, the progress made in the field of superconductivity, as detailed in the 1974 article, has led to significant advancements in various fields, including physics, engineering, and technology.

Sources:

1. The contract for Sydney Harbour bridge, New South Wales, has been placed. (1924). Nature, 113(2846), 416. doi:10.1038/113416a0
2. Superconductive Tunnelling and Applications. (1974). Nature, 248, 189. doi:10.1038/248189a0