Galileo's Fingers?

[science_spot]

If you found fingers and a tooth in a jar, how would you know who they belonged to?  You may not, which is the reason Galileo's digits and a tooth went up for auction without even a mention of the significance of the object.  I suspect the price was much lower than it would have been had the identification been made.

It was just announced that a private buyer purchased the objects at auction.  Given very little information, he suspected who the parts belonged to and after having made his purchase, donated it to the Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy. 

The article on CNN is quite an interesting read, and it will answer many of your questions, including when the fingers were cut off (1737 after his death, as the body was being moved), where they have been for a century (lost), and the irony of that act (related to Catholicism).

Which is cooler, Galileo's fingers, or Darwin's egg?  What other cool objects have been found in storage in recent years?  What else is left to find?

 

Tonya

The Science Spot

 

[arthistmom]

Nov. 23, 2009 at 11:35 PM

For sheer ickiness, Galileo's digits are cooler. (Though I think the remains of St. Anthony of Padua's mandible may top that.)

[auroragold]

Nov. 24, 2009 at 7:41 AM

Very cool!  Thanks for the post

[aenima49]

Nov. 24, 2009 at 9:39 AM

Blech!!  Reading the article now.