"Science is progress. History? Just looking backward—it’s for the backward-minded," declared Dr. Ludwig Finkelstein, chemical scientist, to his historian friend Johann Dirksen. Johann raised an eyebrow. "History is essential. It’s a treasure mine, waiting for you to dig in. If you don’t dig into this treasure mine, what would you be digging into?" Dr. Finkelstein scoffed. "No, I’m a 21st-century man. I only look forward."...