Know your gnomon
The story of Donner Professor of Science John Huth’s interest in primitive navigation techniques began with a body. Two bodies, actually. On his way to do some kayaking off Cape Cod a couple of summers ago, he was stopped by the harbormaster, who told him that two young women had gone missing the day before. They too had gone out in kayaks — neither with a compass — and told their boyfriends that they would return in only 15 minutes. After an hour with no sign of the women, authorities began a search and rescue operation. The next day, one body was found. The other was never recovered. “These young ladies were 19 and 20 years old, college students,” he said. “I actually have two students in college myself. If you read it in the newspaper, you might say, ‘What a shame. That’s horrible,’ and then turn the page. But having been...