Hero (or Heron) of Alexandria (c. 10 – 70) was a Greek engineer and geometer in Alexandria, Hellenistic Egypt. His most famous invention was the first documented steam engine, the aeolipile. He is said to have been a follower of the Atomists. Some of his ideas were derived from the works of Ctesibius.

A number of references mention dates around 150 BC, but these are inconsistent with the dates of his publications and inventions. This may be due to a misinterpretation of the phrase "first century" or a confusion of this Hero with other Heros - Hero was not an uncommon name.

It is also believed that Hero taught at the Museum in Alexandria because most of his writings appear as lecture notes for courses in mathematics, mechanics, physics and pneumatics.

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NPR Topics: Politics & Society

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Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 -0400
The University of Florida in Gainesville is the No. 1-ranked party school. It's a distinction that surprises some students, and administrators hope new policies will help the school change that reputation.
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The Talk of the Town

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The painter Kehinde Wiley first travelled to Nigeria in 1997. He was trying to find his father, whom he had never met, or, more crucially for a portraitist, seen. (His mother didn’t have any photographs.) After several weeks in Lagos, he found his dad, who welcomed him. But--like any . . .
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James Surowiecki Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
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The week before the week before this week’s scheduled gathering of the delegates and their media camp followers in Denver, the nominee-presumptive of the Democratic Party did something that is strongly recommended, and ought to be mandatory, for anyone who has just logged a year and a half’s worth . . .

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