In teaching the history of science to an honors class, I eventually arrive at James Clerk Maxwell. Here is the Scot who has perhaps the most famous set of equations in physics named after him, equations that represent the first unified theory in that they synthesized the fields (in two unrelated senses of the word “fields” no less!) of electricity and magnetism into what then became known as electromagnetism.
But wait, there’s more.
The equations related to electricity included a constant that had to be measured from experiment, εo, the permittivity of free space.
The equations related to magnetism included a constant that had to be measured from experiment, μo, the permeablity of free space.
Maxwell combined his equations in a way that formed a description of waves, and so the electromagnetic wave (right down to your wifi) was “born.” The velocity of the wave turned out to be the square root of 1/εoμo. And evaluating that gives you—the speed of light. Awesome.
I always told my students: imagine what it must have been like for Maxwell to see waves traveling at speed of light pop out of his equations. A true Eureka! moment.
And then, on a study abroad last summer (seems like last millennium) we stopped at St. Andrews in Scotland [1] and heard a lecture from a true expert on Maxwell. I (big mistake!) asked her about Maxwell’s reaction to the speed of light being related to two constants that seemingly had nothing to do with light. She said, paraphrasing: “Meh. It was not a big deal. Maxwell and others were expecting it.”
Balloon, deflated. Well, it’s certainly more fun to teach history when you don’t actually know history and can embellish it willy-nilly!
Which brings us to Priscilla and Aquila, two of my favorite characters from the New Testament. [2]
Priscilla and Aquila (wife and husband) were this remarkable couple, Jewish exiles from Rome, whom Paul encountered in Corinth on his second missionary journey. The bible is silent on what must have floored Paul: at that time he was the world's most far-ranging missionary, and yet he encountered two Christians from Rome. And they appear to be mature in their faith. (And they share his profession!) No missionary of note had yet been anywhere near Rome. How delighted and flabbergasted he must have been.
But that is speculation only, because the bible does not record the matter of his reaction.
I hope my fantasy of Paul’s delighted surprise in encountering Priscilla and Aquila doesn’t end like my fantasy about Maxwell and the speed of light.
[1] It turns out they have a golf course at St. Andrews! Who knew?
[2] And Priscilla’s name is usually given first, which denotes her as the more prominent. And this in a culture of patriarchy, so she would have had to rise even further to be given the marquee position. And, blissfully unaware of notions of biblical manhood and womanhood that would develop over the next two millennia, she participated in teaching a man, Apollos. And he wasn’t just an unschooled layperson convert, but an established missionary. [3]
[3] And Apollos was not told to get a degree in Greek philosophy to master ontology and epistomology and then attend seminary for four years and affirm a lengthy, uninspired, extra-biblical confession. No, he was given simple correction and sent on his way. It is a lot harder to become a preacher or missionary today. It is not at all clear that the results are commensurate with increased cost.
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