1704 in science

List of years in science (Table)
… 1694 • 1695 • 1696 • 1697 • 1698 • 1699 • 1700 • 1701 • 1702 • 1703 – 1704 – 1705 • 1706 • 1707 • 1708 • 1709 • 1710 • 1711 • 1712 • 1713 • 1714 …
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… 1701 • 1702 • 1703 – 1704 – 1705 • 1706 • 1707 … … 1670s • 1680s • 1690s – 1700s – 1710s • 1720s • 1730s … … 17th century – 18th century – 19th century …
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The year 1704 in science and technology involved some significant events.

[edit] General

John Harris publishes the first edition of the Lexicon Technicum, an encyclopedic dictionary of science.

Daniel Defoe documents the Great Storm of 1703 with eyewitness testimonies in The Storm (1704).

Isaac Newton releases a record of experiments and the deductions made from them in Opticks, a major contribution in study of optics and refraction of light.

The second electric machine is invented by British engineer Francis Hauksbee the Elder (1666-1713): the machine was a sphere of glass rotated by a wheel.
For watch movements, Peter Debaufre invents the Debaufre escapement, the first frictional rest watch escapement produced: the escapement consists of two saw-tooth escape wheels of the same count.
For watch bearings, a jewel bearing made of ruby, comprising a ring (the "hole") with a sink for oil, is invented by Nicholas Facio with Peter and Jacob Debaufre, who used pierced natural rubies. Other gemstones have been used since, including garnet (which is too soft) and diamonds. In the 20th century, synthetic ruby or sapphire becomes universal for jewel bearings.
In oil painting, colormaker Diesbach of Berlin (Germany) accidentally invents the pigment Prussian Blue, a powerful dark blue pigment with greenish undertones (made from alum and animal bones); therefore, Prussian blue cannot be found in a paint layer predating 1704.