Major fire in Rio de Janeiro's science museum - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 05:10:01 pm
content: This is a very sad day for Brazil and the scientific communityhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/09/news-museu-nacional-fire-rio-de-janeiro-natural-history/The 200 years old museum is in shambles with many irreparable losses in archaeological artifacts. I have fond memories of visiting there and being marveled by its fossils, mummies, meteors/meteorites and many more things.This disaster is a reflection of a country in tribulations without serious consideration for education. The effects of public administration corruption is an irrepairable damage to future generations.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 05:57:43 pm
content: I wonder what was so flammable in there? It looks like a very old stone/concrete building.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 06:01:11 pm
content: Probably had a lot of very old (and very dry) wood beams, flooring and other internal structure.

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 06:17:53 pm
content: Charles Darwin must be rolling in his grave.He visited the museum in 1832 and spent almost three weeks in Rio de Janeiro exploring the region.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 06:22:15 pm
content: Although the building itself was stone and masonry, its floors, sidings, windows and many curtains on each of its rooms were highly flammable - not to mention several artifacts and documents lost forever.The requests for funds to update the ancient building with anti flammable materials and an efficient sprinkler system were ignored for decades. Given its historic value, any renovations were very expensive.The museum itself is responsibility of the federal government through one of its Universities.

author: japasetelagoas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 07:49:35 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on September 03, 2018, 06:22:15 pmOh, our federal government...

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:15:13 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on September 03, 2018, 06:22:15 pmGetting the artifacts drenched is better than burning them, but not a lot better.It sounds like quite a devastating loss. As science is universal and human and natural history are all of ours, we all lost something of value in this fire.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:53:48 pm
content: Quotehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BromochlorodifluoromethaneQuote

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:56:52 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on September 03, 2018, 08:53:48 pmI know, but sprinklers were being discussed.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 09:03:32 pm
content: Quote from: bsfeechannel on September 03, 2018, 06:17:53 pmWell, not only him but the former emperor of Brasil as well - D. Pedro II, which was a man of sciences and made a lot of efforts to take Brasil to the forefront of research on his tenure. He brought a great deal of artifacts to the museum collection.Quote from: Mr. Scram on September 03, 2018, 08:56:52 pmI didn't know about this; thanks!

author: RobK_NL
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2018, 08:05:03 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on September 03, 2018, 06:22:15 pmMuch more expensive of course than, say, hosting the Olympics ...My heart weeps for this loss to humanity and my blood boils for the stupidity and shortsightedness that caused it.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2018, 10:08:20 pm
content: Quote from: RobK_NL on September 04, 2018, 08:05:03 pmYes, you can say that also for the World cup, Carnaval and other "cultural" events that enjoy a river of public money...

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2018, 01:16:40 am
content: Do you know who is in the management of that Museum. ?Is one of the very left extremist of PSOL party, and I doubt that this was not intentional to erase the monarchy history content from there, to "maybe" they can rewrite the history at some point in the future