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Period: 1 CE to
History of STEM - Levi Egbert
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150
Roman Physician Galen
Roman Physician Galen records early medical matters. He started his studies at the age of 16. He then moved on to work at the healing temple for four years. After, he studied at several locations, including the medical school of Alexandria. He then returned to Pergamon as a physiucian to the gladiators. He even has a plauge named after him, due to its association to Galen. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen -
476
Aryabhata creates eclipse chart
Aryabhata created an accurate eclipse chart! He stated that the moon and planets shine due to the sunlight that is reflected. He explains this by terms of shadows cast on Earth. He discussess the size and extent of Earths shadow. His methods provided the core to the calculations later made by Indian astronomers. It was so accurate that Guillaume Le Gentil in the 18th century was more accurate than his own. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryabhata -
609
Pope Boniface IV - Pantheon Christian Church
Pope Boniface IV was given the Pantheon to establish as the Christian Church. This is significant because it allowed them to preserve the Pantheon and showed the reach of religion during that time period. This and the burial of two Italian kings there allowed it to be preserved. This engineering feet still stands today thanks to the Pope of the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome -
900
Heron ho Alexandreus describes first recorded wind mill
He first described what is to be believed the first wind driven wheel to power a machine. This was in the 9th century. This was located in Iran. The sighting of this machine is significant because the technology is still being used to this day. Not only that, it is being constantly approved on and seems to be the best way forward regarding power supply. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmill -
1420
Madhava of Sangamagrama
Madhava of Sangamagrama founded PI and that it was infinite! His work is cited in Mahajyanayana prakara ("Methods for the great sines"). The value of PI (3.1415926535898) was the result of his work. Madhava also looked into other series for arc lengths, and approximations to rational fractions of PI. He also laid the foundations for the developement of calculus! REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhava_of_Sangamagrama -
Galileo Galilei
He invented the first thermometer. It was actually a thermoscope. It allowed water temperature changes to be measured for the first time. His invention is vital in everyday applications for our time period. Some examples would be as simple as checking the weather to recording and shielding against heat for return/launch of astronauts for space travel. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/what-was-scientific-revolution-key-ideas-inventions -
William Gilbert
William Gilbert discovered that the Earth has magnetic poles! He was born in 1544. He founded the study of magnetism and with Galileo, was a founding father of experimental science. He also created the worlds first electroscope to detect electric charge! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gilbert_(physician) -
Sir Fancis Bacon
Sir Francis Bacon created the scientific method. This would be better known as the Baconian method. This was a first formulation of modern scientific method. It is an example of inductive reasoning. This method set the reasoning as to why scientists today conduct experiments and theories that they do. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baconian_method -
Margaret (Lucas) Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
She was an early fighter for women's rights in the scientific field during the first scientific revolution! She wrote roughly fifteen scientific books on a many different subjects such as poems, philosophical theories, etc.. She is considered the first female science fiction author! https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Cavendish -
Robert Hooke
Robert Hooke discovers cells using an improved microscope! He was the first to visualize a micro-organism. He also discovered the law of elasticity. It describes the "linear variation of tension with extension in an elastic spring". His life was very controversal. Many know him as tempermant, "positively unscrupulous", and envious. He died on March 3rd, 1703. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hooke -
Ole Christensen Roemer
Ole Christensen Roemer captured the first measurement of the speed of light in 1676. He was born in 1644. He did this by timing eclipses of Jupiters moon Io. Until then, scientists assumed that the speed of light was either to fast to measure of infinite. Roemer wasnt even looking for the speed of light when he found it! https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_R%C3%B8mer -
J.H. Lambert
Johann Heinrich Lambert proves that Pie is irrational. He was born in 1728 in France. He left school at 12 years old! He traveled Europe and met several mathematicians in several countries. His attributes to mathematics helped pave the way for todays math. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Heinrich_Lambert -
Alessandro Volta
In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the electric battery (known of the voltaic pile) and thus improved the way electric currents could also be studied. The battery made by Volta is credited as one of the first electrochemical cells. It consists of two electrodes: one made of zinc, the other of copper. Volta's legacy is celebrated by the Tempio Voltiano memorial located in the public gardens.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Volta -
J. Edgar Thomson
Pennsylvania Railroad Co. and B&O railroad was founded by J. Edgar Thomson in 1846. By 1882, it had become the largest railroad, largest transport enterprise, and largest corporation in the world. Its budget was only second to the U.S. government. In 1968, it merged with its rival, New York Central Railroad and became Penn Central Transportation Company. These companies would be the ones to build the most traveled paths in America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edgar_Thomson -
George Boole
The British mathematician George Boole devised an algebra that soon evolved into what is now called Boolean algebra, in which the only numbers were 0 and 1. Boolean algebra is the starting point of mathematical logic and has important applications in computer science.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Boole -
Charles Darwin
Darwin published his theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species. By 1870, the scientific community and a majority of the educated public had accepted evolution. It was not until the emergence of the modern evolutionary synthesis from the 1930s to the 1950s that a broad consensus developed in which natural selection was the basic mechanism of evolution.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin -
Henrietta Vanisittart nee Lowe
In 1868, she patented the Vansittart Propeller. She continued her fathers work, who died by a cart crossing the road, while not having any formal scientific or engineering training. This propeller allowed ships to move faster and smoother while using less fuel. This was a vital object during the industrial revolution. This allowed ships to transport goods and such much more efficiently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Vansittart -
Leland Stanford - Transcontinental railroad
The railroad opened for through traffic between Sacramento and Omaha on May 10, 1869, when CPRR President Leland Stanford ceremonially tapped the gold "Last Spike" (later often referred to as the "Golden Spike") with a silver hammer at Promontory Summit. The resulting coast-to-coast railroad connection revolutionized the settlement and economy of the American West. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_transcontinental_railroad -
Andrew Carnagie
Andrew Carnegie founded Carnegie steel. His steel literally built the foundations of New York and the american society. A Scottish native, Carnegie was born in 1835. He started school at the age of eight and moved to the United States in 1848. He started work at the age of 13 and continued to persue education at night. REFERENCES: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie -
J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan was known in the business and banking world during the industrial revolution. He helped shape the economy as we know it today! He originally went into banking in 1857 in the London branch of Peabody, Morgan & Co. He moved to the United States in 1858 and joined the banking house of Duncan, Sherman & Co. He avoided serving during the Civil War by paying a substitute $300! REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._P._Morgan -
J. D. Rockefeller
Standard Oil was determinded by the U.S. Supreme Court to be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and sustaining a monopoly over the United States oil competition. The company was founded in 1863. John D. Rockefeller joined Maurice B. Clark and Samuel Andrews in Cleveland, Ohio. He later bought out Clark and invited Henry M. Glagler to join as a partner. by 1870, they operated the largest refineries in Cleveland. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil -
J. Presper Eckert & John Mauchly create first computer
Many consider the first computer to be the ENIAC, first digital computer and fully functional. It was completed in 1946. It was used to calculate artillery firing tables for the US Army. This computer set the foundation for the technology in the years to come. This "computer" involved many complicated calculus and mathematical formulas. https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/eniac.htm -
Betty Jean Jennings (Bartik)
Betty Jean Jennings was one of two co-lead programmers for the ENIAC computer. Her programming the first computer allowed equations took "human computers" 40 hours to calculate, took the computer 20 seconds. This mix of mathematics, technology, and science would set the foundation and roadmap for the space age and information age to come. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Bartik -
Sputnik 1 - Mikhail S. Khomyakov
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. Its chief constructor was Mikhail S. Khomyakov. During the start of the Cold War, he oversaw the construction of the first orbital satellite. This satellite stirred controversy in the United States by showing the Soviets were first in space technology! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 -
Yuri Gagarin - First Human In Space
Yuri Gagarin was the first human in outer space! This was a feat during the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. This was significant because it showed who was to achieve superior spaceflight capability first. This was during the Cold War following WW2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin