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John Tyndall: 2 Aug 1820 - 4 Dec 1893

By MicheleT1416

  • Early Life

    John Tyndall was born on August 2, 1820 in Leighlinbridge, Ireland. His father was a local policeman and John attended local schools until his late teens. In 1839, he applied his study of mathematics and land surveying as a draftsman which was in high demand for railroad companies until 1847.

  • Continuing Education

    In 1850 he earned his PhD from the University of Marburg, Germany.

  • Teaching

    Teaching
    From 1853 to 1887 he held the position of Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in London.

  • Study of Gases

    Study of Gases
    In 1859, he created a way to test the capacity of gases to absorb infrared heat in the atmosphere, later termed the greenhouse effect. He also created a process to test differential absorption spectroscopy with an electro-magnetic device and the Tyndall effect was developed. This phenomenon explained how the suns light interacts with suspended particles in the atmosphere to make the sky appear blue.

  • Medical Contributions

    Medical Contributions
    In 1862, Tyndall developed a system to measure the carbon dioxide levels of a human subject upon exhalation. Anesthesiologists still use these fundamental principles to monitor patients today. He also extended Pasteur’s findings regarding bacteria and particulate behavior by creating a box containing “optically pure” air. They stayed in communication through the 1870s and continued working towards an overall germ theory.

  • Death

    Death
    John died December 4, 1893 due to an overdose. He had been treating his insomnia with choral hydrate which was used as a sedative in asylums as well and more general medical practices. https://youtu.be/ObZ_ymaM4BY

  • Works Cited

    “John Tyndall”, Ruth Barton, Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Tyndall. April;l 27 2020 "John Tyndall." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Apr. 2020. Web.
    27 Apr. 2020 “Tyndall effect”, Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. Feb 5 2009, https://www.britannica.com/science/Tyndall effect April 27 2020