Last April, hundreds of thousands of tourists flocked to Arkansas to view the total solar eclipse, drawn by its predicted 100-mile stretch of totality.

“While we knew the precise time of totality for the April 8, 2024 eclipse, many remained uncertain until the last moment whether they would be able to see it due to weather concerns,” said Daniel Kennefick, professor of physics. “Why can we predict some natural phenomena, but not others? What does this tell us about the history of science?”

Kennefick will outline the story of how astronomers perfected the science of eclipse prediction during his public lecture, “In Totality: The History of Science Through the Study of Solar and Lunar Eclipses,” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at noon in the Honors Student Lounge (GEAR 130).

The lecture will preview his fall 2025 Honors College Signature Seminar and trace the evolution of scientific prognostication through 12 historical eclipses and the “cast of characters” who documented them. These include key figures like the Babylonians in Mesopotamia, who recorded the Saros cycle; Hipparchus, who developed the cardinal method for predicting solar eclipses in Ancient Greece; and surprisingly, Benjamin Franklin, who analyzed a Nor’easter after missing a lunar eclipse in the 18th century due to poor visibility. This progression culminates in modern science and the sustaining cultural fascination with eclipses today.

Kennefick notes that this course not only documents the history of eclipses but also highlights why our understanding of these natural events is profound.

“You don’t meet many eclipse skeptics,” Kennefick said, contrasting this confidence with the predictability of weather forecasting. “We know the science has a tried-and-true track record, yet most of us have no idea how it’s done.”

For Kennefick, this honors course is perfectly timed. Thanks to the recent eclipse, many students in the course will have experienced the phenomenon they are studying firsthand.

“I’m from Ireland,” Kennefick noted. “The last solar eclipse visible in Ireland was in 1725, and the next won’t be until 2090. We are extremely fortunate to have seen one or two in our lifetime.”

At its core, this interdisciplinary course focuses on fostering scientific literacy, with eclipses serving as a powerful metaphor. For instance, the element helium derives its name from the Greek word helios, meaning sun, because it was first identified in the spectrum of the sun’s chromosphere. Interestingly, the first observation of helium was made during a solar eclipse in the late 19th century, Kennefick shared.

“The people who know enough to talk intelligently about these things are the ones who pass it on,” Kennefick said. “The number of people who predict when eclipses will occur is quite small. But the broader group—those who understand the challenges, complexities, and possibilities of the science—plays a vital role in spreading that knowledge.”

SIGNATURE SEMINARS EXPLORE DIVERSE TOPICS

In Totality is one of three Honors College Signature Seminars scheduled for fall 2025. The other courses offered are: 

Food Matters — Taught by Jennie Popp, associate dean of the Honors College, Margaret Sova McCabe, vice chancellor for research and innovation and Curt Rom, University Professor of horticulture.

Mexico — Taught by Rogelio Garcia Contreras, teaching assistant professor of strategy, entrepreneurship and venture innovation.

The dean of the Honors Colleges nominates top research faculty to participate in this program, and those selected to teach will become Dean’s Fellows in the Honors College.        

Honors students must apply to participate, and those selected will be designated Dean’s Signature Scholars. The course application is posted online on the Signature Seminars web page. The deadline to apply is March 13, 2025, at 5 p.m.

About Daniel Kennefick: Daniel Kennefick received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the National University of Ireland and his doctorate in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He was a postdoctoral researcher at Cardiff University in Wales and at Caltech before joining the faculty at the University of Arkansas. He is the author of books on the history of gravitational wave theory Travelling at the Speed of Thought (2007) and the 1919 Eclipse expeditions to test General Relativity No Shadow of a Doubt (2019) and a co-author of An Einstein Encyclopedia (2016), all published by Princeton University Press. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and is a scientific editor for the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.