Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Letter: Hero of Alexandria's steam engine

Published 27 September 2017

From John Bradshaw, Belgrave South, Victoria, Australia

You ask: what if the ancient Greeks had invented the steam engine (9 September, p 5)? described a sphere containing water mounted over a fire on a horizontal axis, with small jets emitting steam. It spins – he thus invented both the steam engine and the jet.

Issue no. 3145 published 30 September 2017

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop