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Born
John Tyndall was born in Leighlinbridge, Ireland on August 2nd 1820 to John and Sarah Tyndall. -
Professor of Natural Philosophy
At first John Tyndall struggled to find a position as an educator. This was primarily due to his lack of experience and qualifications that he held. However, Tyndall was able to gain the notability needed, by conducting different experiments involving magnetism and being appointed a fellow in the Royal Society. Through these experiments and his appointment, Tyndall was offered a position as a professor of natural philosophy at London’s Royal institution. -
The Greenhouse Effect
John Tyndall is known for discovering that water vapor and carbon dioxide are able to absorb heat radiation. Tyndall was able to accomplish this with his invention of the ratio spectrophotometer, which created radiation through a copper cube with boiling water. Tyndall recognized any change in our atmosphere’s water vapor or carbon dioxide could change the climate. This gave us the term we use today known as the Greenhouse Effect. -
The Tyndall Effect
As a professor at the Royal Institution in London Tyndall was conducting research on the radiant energy of air. Tyndall constructed a glass tube with a white light to help simulate the Earth’s atmosphere. He annotated that a blueish hue would appear closer to the light and red at the opposite side. Tyndall introduced the theory that dust, and vapor particles scattered the blue light in the sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iPiQYGHqtQ&t=65s -
Death
John Tyndall died in his home at Hasslemere, England December 4th, 1893. His death was caused by accidental overdose of chloral hydrate, which he was taking to help with his insomnia.