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IKT Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
a scientific bonanza
Hi,
I’ve just seen this expression “a scientific bonanza” from the article 10 Crazy Ideas From Astronomy's Past (by Michael E Bakich):
[…]The 1877 opposition of Mars was a scientific bonanza. In America, Asaph Hall discovered Mars' two small moons, Phobos and Deimos. In Italy, Giovanni Schiaparelli observed and sketched the planet. He named features and recorded many straight lines. Schiaparelli dubbed the lines canali (Italian for " channels " or " grooves "). English speakers mistranslated the word " canals. " The possibility of canals built by intelligent life on Mars enthralled wealthy Bostonien Percival Lowell. He set up an observatory overlooking Flagstaff, Arizona.[…]
As the word “bonanza” is new to me, I looked it up in dictionaries, and found that it is a Spanish word, meaning “a rich lode”, literally and metaphorically. Then can I read “a scientific bonanza” as “a rich lode for the scientific world”? The author seems to be making the point that it was the 1877 opposition of Mars which accidentally led the wealthy businessman Lowell to invest in science. Am I correct on this?
Thanks.
I’ve just seen this expression “a scientific bonanza” from the article 10 Crazy Ideas From Astronomy's Past (by Michael E Bakich):
[…]The 1877 opposition of Mars was a scientific bonanza. In America, Asaph Hall discovered Mars' two small moons, Phobos and Deimos. In Italy, Giovanni Schiaparelli observed and sketched the planet. He named features and recorded many straight lines. Schiaparelli dubbed the lines canali (Italian for " channels " or " grooves "). English speakers mistranslated the word " canals. " The possibility of canals built by intelligent life on Mars enthralled wealthy Bostonien Percival Lowell. He set up an observatory overlooking Flagstaff, Arizona.[…]
As the word “bonanza” is new to me, I looked it up in dictionaries, and found that it is a Spanish word, meaning “a rich lode”, literally and metaphorically. Then can I read “a scientific bonanza” as “a rich lode for the scientific world”? The author seems to be making the point that it was the 1877 opposition of Mars which accidentally led the wealthy businessman Lowell to invest in science. Am I correct on this?
Thanks.
Top answer
iKT can I read “a scientific bonanza” as “a rich lode for the scientific world”? Yes, but because it offered a chance to study Mars carefully and make many new discoveries. It has nothing to do with money.
- iKT can I read “a scientific bonanza” as “a rich lode for the scientific world”?
- Yes, but because it offered a chance to study Mars carefully and make many new discoveries.
- It has nothing to do with money.
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4 Answers
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iKT can I read “a scientific bonanza” as “a rich lode for the scientific world”?Yes, but because it offered a chance to study Mars carefully and make many new discoveries. It has nothing to do with money.
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I see, MM. It is a metaphor in this context, which means the 1877 opposition of Mars provided a source of great prosperity. Thanks for correcting me.
I’ve never seen or heard “bonanza” before. Is it a common word in American English? Would you use it in everyday conversation - I mean, in a serious way, not in a joking way? I feel that it might sound comical to use this word in daily conve
I’ve never seen or heard “bonanza” before. Is it a common word in American English? Would you use it in everyday conversation - I mean, in a serious way, not in a joking way? I feel that it might sound comical to use this word in daily conve
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iKT Is it a common word in American English? Would you use it in everyday conversation - I mean, in a serious way, not in a joking way?Yes and yes. It is not a joke in the excerpt you quote, either.
1877 opposition of Mars provided a source of great prosperity -- Not prosperity, just opportunity for scientific investigation.
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Mister MicawberNot prosperity, just opportunity for scientific investigation.Thank you very much for correcting me again, MM. I have finally come to understand that. Thanks for your patience.
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