3 ms·
If you read about diffusion of innovation, there is the classical example that cure for scurvy was known way before being adopted: thttps://web.archive.org/web/
by p0nce 3y ago
If you read about diffusion of innovation, there is the classical example that cure for scurvy was known way before being adopted: thttps://web.archive.org/web/20151022041843/http://www.idlewords.com/2010/03/scott_and_scurvy.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20151022041843/http://www.idlewo...
- cb321 3y agoA well written and absolutely gripping & interesting tale, also discussed here at the time (including by the blog author) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1174912 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1174912 and re-posted many times without as much ( https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=scott%20idlewords.com&sort=byDate&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que... ). Particularly striking was how concurrent innovations like copper tools, steam boats, and milk pasteurization derailed only partially developed scurvy theory. One wonders if this story partly inspired Woody Allen's joke in _Sleeper_ about steak being found to be good for you.[1] { Probably more the constant thrashing about of recommendations that has infected nutrition science since forever, though. } [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yCeFmn_e2c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yCeFmn_e2c