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Emilie du Chatelet
a French mathematician, physicist, and author, known for her translation of Isaac Newton's "Principia Mathematica" into French. She also made significant contributions to the fields of physics and mathematics, including developing a formula for kinetic energy. -
Mary Anning
a paleontologist, known for her significant contributions to the discovery of prehistoric creatures in (1823) the Jurassic marine fossil beds in Lyme Regis, England. Anning discovered the first complete specimen of a Plesiosaurus and numerous other important fossils. Her work challenged the idea of a static Earth and paved the way for modern paleontology. -
Marie Curie
a physicist and chemist, known for her pioneering work in radioactivity. She discovered two elements, radium and polonium, and developed techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes. Her work laid the foundation for modern nuclear physics and medicine. Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize (in Physics, 1903) and the first person to receive two Nobel Prizes in different fields (Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911). -
Barbara McClintock
a geneticist, whose groundbreaking work on corn genetics led to the discovery of transposable elements or "jumping genes" in the mid-late 1940s. McClintock's research revealed the dynamic nature of genetic material and provided insight into genetic regulation and inheritance. She was the first woman to receive an unshared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1983). -
Rosalind Franklin
a biophysicist, whose work on X-ray crystallography helped reveal the structure of DNA. She captured the famous "Photo 51," which provided key insights into the double helix structure of DNA. Franklin's work paved the way for the discovery of the genetic code and advances in biotechnology.