A historian is researching the spread of germ theory in medical journals. Between 1860 and 1870, the number of published articles referencing germ theory increased from 12 to 216. Assuming exponential growth, what was the annual growth rate (in percent, to one decimal place)? - Treasure Valley Movers

How Exponential Growth Shaped Public Health Discourse: A Historian’s Look at Germ Theory’s Rise in Medical Journals, 1860–1870

Learning about breakthroughs in medical science often slows into quiet recognition—until the numbers tell a story. A historian studying the spread of germ theory in medical journals between 1860 and 1870 uncovers a striking trend: the count of published articles referencing this revolutionary concept skyrocketed from just 12 to 216. When assumed to follow exponential growth, this transformation reveals more than just rising numbers: it reflects a turning point in how medicine understood disease. With mobile devices now integral to research, this historical data invites fresh reflection on how knowledge cascades—and why such pivot