Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Queen of the fleas' dies
news24.com ^ | 1-25-05 | news24

Posted on 01/26/2005 3:21:17 PM PST by Rakkasan1

London - Dame Miriam Rothschild, a self-taught scientist whose highly technical studies of parasites earned her the title "Queen of the Fleas", has died at the age of 96, her family said. Rothschild died on January 20 at her home, her family said. The cause of death was not announced. A private funeral was held the following day. A passionate conservationist known mainly for her work on fleas and butterflies, Rothschild also published more than 300 papers on a wide range of subjects that included bird behaviour and the effects of a group of chemicals called pyrazines. Her magnum opus was the Catalogue of the Rothschild Collection of Fleas, which appeared in six volumes over 30 years. Rothschild was the first to note that the rabbit flea allowed its breeding cycles to be controlled by its host rabbit's hormones and conducted fascinating research into the parasites infesting the eyelashes of hippos.

(Excerpt) Read more at news24.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dies; fleas; queen; rothschild; science
Her interests ranged far beyond science. During World War II she tenaciously pressed the British authorities to admit more Jews from Nazi Germany and at one point personally housed 49 Jewish children. She worked in the top-secret British effort at Bletchley Park to crack the Nazis' code.

In 1943 she married George Lane, a handsome Hungarian-born British commando. They had four children and adopted two more before divorcing in 1957. As she raised her children, her late-night attention turned to fleas.

Using high-speed photography, she studied how fleas jump. She theorized that they descended from winged ancestors and employed modified flight structures. In a famous comparison, she said fleas jump as high for fleas as the Empire State Building would be for humans.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/10735150.htm?1c

1 posted on 01/26/2005 3:21:17 PM PST by Rakkasan1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Rakkasan1
The cause of death was not announced.

You don't think being 96 had something to do with it?

God bless her! She sounds like she was a noble and very interesting person.

2 posted on 01/26/2005 3:23:09 PM PST by Tax-chick (Wielder of the Dread Words of Power, "Bless your heart, honey!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rakkasan1

Wonder how many flea circuses will hold a moment of silence for her passing.


3 posted on 01/26/2005 3:23:48 PM PST by peyton randolph (CAIR supports TROP terrorists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rakkasan1

I'm just itchy all over reading this.


4 posted on 01/26/2005 3:25:29 PM PST by RtWngr (Being tolerant of the intolerant is pretty stupid actually.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

There seems to be an epidemic of totally unexplained deaths among very old people.

Personally, I blame Bush.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329124/posts?page=2#2


5 posted on 01/26/2005 3:28:41 PM PST by ScottFromSpokane (http://drunkengop.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Rakkasan1

I hope when I die I have a cool royal nickname. Hopefully nothing like King of Fungus or Earl of Earhair.


7 posted on 01/26/2005 3:29:12 PM PST by socal_parrot (Boxer sucks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: socal_parrot

I'd rather be the 'Duke of Dorks' than the "King of Pop"


8 posted on 01/26/2005 3:43:08 PM PST by Rakkasan1 (john f'n kerry-the original 'million dollar baby'.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Rakkasan1
'Queen of the fleas' dies

Her husband, Lord of the Flies, was reportedly in seclusion.

9 posted on 01/26/2005 3:47:53 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: socal_parrot

Im gonna be the Bastard of Beer.


10 posted on 01/26/2005 3:52:01 PM PST by DainBramage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DainBramage

Shoot for the stars!!! ;)


11 posted on 01/26/2005 3:54:20 PM PST by socal_parrot (Boxer sucks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Maybe it was a bungee jumping accident, or she lost control of her motorcycle perhaps...


12 posted on 01/26/2005 4:00:20 PM PST by Welsh Rabbit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ScottFromSpokane
totally unexplained deaths among very old people

The same reporters who can't write, "He drove his truck off the road and hit a tree," can't say, "She died of old age." Somebody needs to whomp these twerps upside the head with some active-voice verbs.

13 posted on 01/27/2005 5:09:20 AM PST by Tax-chick (Wielder of the Dread Words of Power, "Bless your heart, honey!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson