American Heirlooms - April 2022

American Heirlooms - April 2022

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APRIL 2022

The Complex Math of Leap Days

It has been interesting to share the information regarding our seasons and the resulting astronomical events with each of you the past two months. This month, I’m finishing the series by examining a phenomenon of mankind: the way we measure our days. For the past 440 years, we have relied on the Gregorian calendar, which was created and instituted by Pope Gregory XIII as a way to make up for lost time and shifting seasons. This was a big issue in Pope Gregory XIII’s time. For centuries, we had relied on a complicated Roman calendar that, up until Julius Caesar’s reign, had just 365 days in it. This was a problem because it takes Earth approximately 365.24 (and then some) days to rotate around the sun each year. By measuring each year using exactly 365 days, slowly, the seasons became out of alignment with the days of the calendar. Imagine the Fourth of July in early spring or late autumn weather! (Of course, the Independence Day holiday didn’t exist back then.) To solve this issue, Caesar proposed the idea of leap day, which introduced one extra day to the calendar every four years. (Sounds familiar, right?) However, there was a problem. Because creating a year that was 365.25 days gave us too many days throughout the year — remember, it’s 365.24 days for Earth to travel around the sun — the calendar began to slowly shift off course once again. Experts concluded they were about 10 days off-kilter. Pope Gregory XIII called upon physician Aloysius Lilus and astronomer Christopher Clavius to find the secret number that would dissolve all the issues. With some “simple” math, the group concluded that the leap day system worked, but it needed minor adjustments to account for the “overcorrection.” That meant leap years would have to be eliminated in certain years to make up for extra time. So, it was decided that leap years wouldn’t occur every new century if the year was not divisible by four. This meant in the year 1900, when there should have been a leap year, there was not. There was a leap day in 2000, but there won’t be in 2100.

This small correction made up for the overcorrection from Caesar’s calculation. It also created the modern calendar as we know it today, meaning we recognize every Jan. 1 as the start of a new year, and the seasons as we know them typically line up with the same months each year. (There are some cultures that use other calendars and different starting points for a new year, but the Gregorian calendar is the most widely accepted.) It’s odd and interesting how mankind’s measurement of time has been so finicky. To me, it’s a reminder that God’s creation and manifestation is so precise and calculated by our Creator that a human-made system could never compare. It takes extra days and complicated math to even get close.

I hope you have learned something new these past three months. I know I have.

–Ethan Zimmerman

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Spring has officially arrived! As the weather warms up around the country, people are heading outside to refresh their gardens. But what if you live in a small space, like an apartment, or simply don’t have any backyard space to accommodate growing your own plants? If you’re in that situation, use these three areas to help your plants thrive! A BALCONY OR PATIO Most pots can sit on balcony and patio floors while still getting enough sunlight to properly grow. Just remember to water them appropriately and bring them inside if the weather turns bad! IN WINDOWS Windows can provide the perfect space for plants to absorb sunlight without the need to manage their location. Bay windows are ideal, but you can also place plants on the windowsill. THE ENTRYWAY Plants don’t just have to grow on the ground or in pots! An entryway can let you go vertical with your greenery while staying out of the way of visitors.

JUPITER AND VENUS ‘COLLIDE’: APRIL 30–MAY 1 Send off April by watching two planets pass by each other. Just before dawn on April 30, Jupiter will slide into view alongside Venus in the southeast. The planets will appear as neighbors until May 1, and this planetary sight is best viewed an hour before sunrise. THE BLACK MOON: APRIL 30 Contributing to the brightness and depth of the Jupiter- Venus matchup is the rare and mysterious Black Moon. Although not a recognized “official” event, the Black Moon is often referred to by astronomy enthusiasts as a new moon — the beginning stage of the moon when the illuminated side is facing away from the Earth — that occurs for a second time within one month. The Black Moon on April 30 is so important because it’s likely going to be the only Black Moon most people on Earth “don’t see” this year. Don’t set up the telescope hoping to catch a glimpse of this moon. The Black Moon is aptly named because in the new moon phase, the moon “disappears” from the sky. The value in this phenomenon is that without the illumination from the moon, it’s easier to see astronomical events and objects.

April is one of the most enjoyable months to gaze upon the heavens. As the weather continues to warm up, travel to a dark spot, set up your telescope, and watch as these must-see astronomical events from the Creator unfold.

THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER: APRIL 21–22 The skies will come alive once again on April 21. The Lyrid meteor shower streaks past Earth every year around this time, and produces about 15 meteors per hour. Consider this show a prequel to an even larger meteor shower in early May, the Eta Aquarids shower. In this dazzling spectacle, you can witness anywhere from 20 to 40 meteors per hour. These captivating visuals are best observed in an area with very minimal light pollution. This is true for any stargazing adventure, but it’s especially useful for the Lyrid meteor shower, as the moon will be waning gibbous and illuminating the sky. The good news is that by the Eta Aquarids shower, we will have a new moon, so light pollution from the moon will be nonexistent.

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Bubbles are light and whimsical, enjoyed partially because of their ever-changing shape and quick disappearing act. Recently, researchers discovered a way to make the excitement of bubbles last a little longer — 465 days in fact. In a report in Physical Review Fluids from Jan. 18, 2022, researchers at the University of Lille in France presented a formula for a bubble that withstood popping for more than one year. The bubble remained intact for 465 days, which earned it the title of the longest lasting bubble on Earth under normal weather conditions. If it wasn’t obvious, the bubble was not your standard recipe of soap and water. Instead, it included “water, microparticles of plastic and a clear, viscous liquid called glycerol,” according to ScienceNews.org. Previous studies on similar formulas focused more attention on the properties and interactions of the compounds in this mixture; however, the Lille finding varies because its researchers were able to examine the time it took for the bubble to pop.

soap-and-water bubble, gravity weighs it down

while its outer layer quickly evaporates. The result is a very fragile compound. In this new, chemically engineered bubble,

glycerol acts as a sticky material

that absorbs moisture rather than releasing it into the air. So, rather than evaporate, these bubbles fill up! (Strangely enough, glycerol is very sweet, which causes one to ponder if these “unpoppable” bubbles would be tasty.) So, what was it that eventually took down this power bubble? Fermentation, most likely. Prior to popping, the bubble turned a strange green color, causing the scientists who created the bubble and were invested in its longevity to believe that bacteria had begun to eat away at the surface and integrity of the bubble.

The science behind this long-lasting bubble boils down to flipping the properties of a standard bubble. In a traditional

From evaporation to bacteria, who knew bubbles had so many enemies? Regardless, this is one bubble that will live in infamy.

INGREDIENTS • 8 cups cubed potatoes, cooked

• 1 1/4 cup milk

• 1 envelope ranch dressing mix

By Heather & Megan

• 1 tsp salt

• Pepper, to taste

• 8 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped

• 1 cup shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine milk, ranch dressing mix, salt, and pepper and pour over potatoes in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Top with bacon and cheese. Bake for 25–30 minutes.

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Brought to you by KCS Quality Kitchens and Furniture 291 Blackiston Rd. • Clayton, DE 19938 Phone: (302) 653-2411 • Email: [email protected] The Swiss Craftsman

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Inside this Issue

The Math That Gave Us the Calendar Page 1

Where to Place Plants in Your Small Space

3 Ways to Explore the Heavens in April Page 2

The Bubble That Popped After 465 Days

Ranch Potatoes Page 3

Get Outdoors With the Family Through Cycling Page 4

CYCLING IS THE PERFECT ACTIVITY FOR ALL AGES

You likely learned how to ride a bike as a child — according to a 2013 survey, about 94% of American adults did. Even if it has been a while since your last ride, most people agree you never forget how, and you don’t have to be in great shape to get started. Outside of walking, biking might be the most accessible exercise for all ages and ability levels. The beauty of biking is that it can be as relaxing or challenging as you want. The average child learns to ride at around 5 years old, so the basics aren’t complicated. Biking helps young children get outside and gives them a taste of being a "big child." As a result, it’s excellent for their self- esteem as well as their fitness. Cycling is also perfect for adults who are new to exercise or need a low-impact activity. A short ride on a flat surface will get the heart rate up without feeling too strenuous, making it optimal for beginners. Older adults and people with knee problems also use biking as an alternative to other forms of exercise because it’s easier on their joints.

Meanwhile, those looking for a

challenge can easily find one. If you want a strenuous workout,

it’s easy to ride farther, increase the resistance on your bike, or pick a steeper bike trail to explore. Biking is only a cakewalk if you choose to make it one. Since it’s perfect for all ages, cycling is the ideal outdoor activity to do with your family, allowing everyone to be involved in quality time together while promoting their health. To get started, make sure everyone has a bike they can use comfortably and a helmet that fits, plus understands bike safety. Once the basics are taken care of, you’re ready to hit the trails or explore the neighborhood. Even if you never learned how to ride, there’s no time like the present. You might feel a little silly at first, but the benefits of cycling will serve you — and your family — well for the rest of your life.

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