..HH ,6G{HH d'`,<KTLLF`F` 33of  (kqHH Gl m=h4` m=h2 G]DH2HA.?.?</??< N O oser conjunction 59 years earlier should have alerted the Babylonians. With this in mind, an American astronomer, Roger Sinnott, has checked out the positihe posi Helvetica Helvetica0d0d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .@(>` mJ(LF`Ǯ< m$HxB?<LF`Ǯ F 󬀾 <a      TE! wHlu"f"Rlose passes of each other known, astronomiDecember 5, 1996. Copyright, 1996, Graphic News. All rights reserved ALFRED NOBEL HIS LIFE AND WORK Notes compiled by Julie Mullins LONDON, December 5, Graphic News- Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm in 1833, the son of Imanuel Nobel, an engineer, nd inventor and builder, who was forced into bankruptcy in the year Alfred was born. The family move with his construction work, but was forced into bankruptcy in the year Alfred was born. The family movePetersburg where Imanuel started again, providing equipd to St Petersburg where Imanuel started again, providing equipment for the Russian army. He convinced the Tsar and his generals that his design for naval mines submerged wooden casks filled with gunpowder could be used to block enemy ships from threatening the city. The plan was successful the British Royal Navy was effectively deterred from moving into firing range of St Petersburg during the Crimean War. Alfred and his brothers were given a first class education and by the age of 17, he spoke five languages and had a deep love of poetry and literature, as well as chemistry and physics. Imanuel, who wanted his sons to join his business, disapproved of the interest in poetry and sent Alfred abroad to study chemical engineering. In Paris, Nobel met Itaan chemist Ascanio Sobrero, who three years previously had invented nitroglycerine, a highly explosive liquid. Due to its unpredictable nature, it was considered far too dangerous to be of any practical use but Alfred was fascinated, realising it could revolutionise the construction industry provided the safety problems could be solved. In 1852 he returned to St Petersburg and worked with his father to develop nitroglycerine as a commercial explosive. By 1864 he was back in Stockholm, but an explosion whichkilled his brother Emil and several others persuaded the authorities that nitroglycerine production was highly dangerous and forbade further experiments within the city limits. Undeterred, Alfred found that mixing nitroglycerine with silica turned the liquid into a paste which could be shaped into rods suitable for insertion into drilling holes, and in 1866 he patented this as dynamite. The pneumatic drill came into general use at the same time and together, these inventions drastically reduced the cost of blasting rock, drilling tunnels, building canals and other construction work. Nobel proved to be an astute businessman and over the years founded factories and laboratories in over 20 countries. Alfred Nobel died in 1896. His greatness lay in his ahis ability to combine the penetrating mind of the scientist and inventor with the forward-looking dynamism of the industrialist and, in his will, he made provision for variations for various prizes in fields in which he had been interested. One of his close friends, Austrian countess, Bertha von Suttner, had become a prominent figure in the peace movement. No doubt her friendship influenceduntess, Bertha von Suttner, had become a prominent figure in the peace movement. No doubt her friendship influencedfluenced Nobel to provide for a prize for persons or organisations who promoted peace. In 1905, Bertha von Suttner, author of a famous book, Lay Down Your Arms was herself the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Sources: Nobel Instituteteeees: Nobel Institutetes business, disapproved of the interest in poetry and sent Alfred abroad to study chemical engineering. In Paris, Nobel met Itali |   HnNO Bg?-HnHmN 0;@Jmg0-`JfBg?-N 0;@J@g0-` npp`J-fXJmfPBgHm.?-*HmN 0;@J@g0-`\Bg m?(\HnN 0;@J@fBg m?(\?<BN 0;@J@f xB h HhN R -@ mB/.NLF`0Ǯ @(>` mJ(LF` =0Ǯ K(BI Helvetica Black ObliqueLI Helvetica Light ObliqueMonacoNew Berolina MTOld English Text