The 10 greatest scientists of all time and why
Science is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation." Science encompasses a wide range of disciplines, from chemistry to physics, biology to astronomy. These studies have not only taught us a great deal about the world around us but have also saved countless lives through disease cures and technological innovations. We owe so much to history's great scientists and their monumental achievements. In my most recent article, we will highlight ten of history's greatest scientists, discussing who they are and what makes them so important.
Archimedes
Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek physicist, engineer, astronomer, mathematician, and inventor who lived from 287 BC to 212 BC. While he is known as one of history's great mathematicians (he derived an accurate approximation of pi – i.e. the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, which is approximately equal to 3.14159), he is also a legendary scientist, contributing to a wide range of disciplines, including explaining the laws of levers and pulleys. The knowledge was put to use in the development of novel defensive war machines to protect his hometown of Syracuse.
Archimedes is also credited with developing the Archimedes' principle, which is a method for calculating the volume of an irregularly shaped object. Archimedes' principle is based on the assumption that when immersed in water, an irregularly shaped object will displace a volume of water equal to its own volume. Anecdotal evidence suggests that serendipity played a significant role in Archimedes' discovery of the principle. He was famously taking a bath when he alighted on the discovery and, overcome with joy, jumped out of the bath and took to the streets (naked no less) shouting "Eureka!" – which translates as "I have found it!"
Marie Curie
Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a scientific titan known for her pioneering work in physics and chemistry. This Polish and naturalized French scientist pioneered radioactivity research before applying her groundbreaking findings to the field of X-ray. It is difficult to overstate the significance of such a feat. Curie went on to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry and physics, becoming the first woman and only woman to do so twice. Curie was also in charge of developing mobile X-ray units for use in field hospitals during WWI.
Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1726) was a world-renowned scientist and mathematician, whose work had a huge impact on English society during the Glorious Revolution (1688). Along with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Newton discovered the law of gravitation (which laid the groundwork for the theory of relativity), the three laws of motion in mechanics, and the infinitesimal calculus. Newton is also responsible for a slew of other discoveries, inventions, and scientific advances. His significance as a pivotal figure in the scientific revolution cannot be overstated.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein (1878–1955) is a name that hardly needs to be introduced. Einstein, undoubtedly one of the most famous scientists of all time (and perhaps one of the most famous faces), transformed the state of modern physics with his general theory of relativity – a truly monumental achievement explaining how the force of gravity arises from the curvature of space and time and is the current description for gravitation in modern physics. Einstein was also awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for discovering the Photoelectric effect, which served as the foundation for Quantum Theory.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was a true forerunner. In fact, because his inventions and ideas were so outlandish, he was largely underappreciated during his lifetime. He was incredibly foresighted, however, as he imagined hydraulic pumps and designed the first war tanks, helicopters, and an early bicycle despite his lack of scientific training. Leonardo also drew inspiration for his paintings from his love of science, observing natural phenomena such as rock formations and fossils. His anatomical sketchbook of 200 pages only adds to his Renaissance Man moniker.
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) was a pivotal figure in the treatment of infectious diseases. It is estimated that Pasteur saved more lives than anyone else in history as a result of his discoveries of the principles of vaccination and advancement of medicine in developing cures for diseases such as rabies and anthrax. Pasteur is also credited with inventing pasteurization, a process that has made milk safer to drink, and his medical discoveries have bolstered the germ theory of disease. He is now widely regarded as the "Father of Microbiology."
Galileo
Galileo (1564–1642) was an Italian scientist and scholar whose groundbreaking observations transformed the way humans perceive the world. There is no doubt that Galileo's works laid the groundwork for modern physics and astronomy. Galileo was able to demonstrate, in a monumental work, that the Earth revolves around the sun rather than the other way around. His contributions to science and humanity also include the invention of the first telescope and the development of the concept of inertia. He was able to transform the world of astronomy by harnessing the power of the telescope.
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943) deserves a lot of credit for his contributions to the development of electricity. Tesla was a brilliant scientist who invented the alternating current system and discovered the rotating magnetic field. Tesla was not only responsible for alternating current, but he also created a slew of other inventions, including early X-ray imaging and mechanical oscillators. Furthermore, Tesla pursued wireless lighting and publicized the possibilities of wireless communication; however, he ran out of funds before completing the project that would put these ideas into practice.
Charles Darwin
What more can be said about Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)? Darwin, undeniably one of the most influential figures in modern scientific history, developed the theory of evolution, which radically altered the way humans viewed life. The world has been completely transformed as a result of his 20-year effort to gather evidence and ideas before publishing them in his famous work, On the Origin of Species. The theory of evolution has provided a valuable framework for the origin of man, which has been adopted by both naturalists and theists.
Tu Youyou
Tu Youyou (1930–present) is a Chinese chemist and educator who is the only person on this list who is still alive. Tu Youyou is perhaps the least well-known name on this list, but her accomplishments in her field more than justify her inclusion. This pharmaceutical chemist's discovery of artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin, both of which treat malaria, has saved millions of lives. This was a significant breakthrough in tropical medicine. Tu Youyou is the first Chinese woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize.
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