Editing 1852 in science (section)

==Technology==
* March 2 – The first American experimental steam [[fire engine]], designed by [[Alexander Bonner Latta]], is tested.<ref>{{cite book|first=William T.|last=King|title=History of the American Steam Fire-Engine|year=1896}}</ref>
* August 23 – [[George Jennings]] receives a U.K. [[patent]] for improvements to the [[flush toilet]].<ref>No. 14,273. {{cite web|title=Innovations in toilet design|url=https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-topic/business-finance-and-innovation/toilet-design/|publisher=The National Archives|accessdate=2024-11-01}}</ref>
* The mechanical [[semaphore line]] in France is superseded by the [[electric telegraph]].
* Captain [[Edward Mounier Boxer|E. M. Boxer]] of the [[Royal Arsenal]] devises an improvement to the [[shrapnel shell]] by insertion of an iron diaphragm, preventing premature ignition.<ref>{{cite journal|first=A.|last=Marshall|title=The Invention and Development of the Shrapnel Shell|url=https://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1920/JAN_FEB_1920/JAN_FEB_1920_PAGES_12_18.pdf|journal=The Field Artillery Journal|year=1920|pages=12–18|access-date=2012-03-08|archive-date=2011-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617051316/http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1920/JAN_FEB_1920/JAN_FEB_1920_PAGES_12_18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* French physicist [[Léon Foucault]] (1819–1868) makes [[History of the compass#Gyrocompass|the first gyroscope for scientific use]]