Measurement Unlocks Creation
In 1887, physicist Charles Vernon Boys made an unexpected breakthrough while seeking a fine glass shard for experiments to measure the effects of force on delicate objects. Using a custom-built crossbow to fire bolts attached to molten glass, Boys created incredibly thin, yet surprisingly strong glass fibers. This unconventional method revealed a hidden property of glass: its potential for strength. Boys's discovery led to the development of fiberglass, revolutionizing industries from aviation to computing. His experiment exemplifies how new ways of measuring often unlock new possibilities for making, like bacterial content measurement revolutionizing public health and quartz time enabling modern computation.