On February 13, 1743, [O.S.] British naturalist and science patron Sir Joseph Banks was born. Well-educated and heir to a fortune by 20, Banks employed his talents and resources in the cause of Natural Science, and Botany in particular. He collected rocks, plant and…
On February 6, 1913, Mary Douglas Leakey was born. Interested in art and archaeology from an early age, she was deeply impressed by the prehistoric cave paintings she visited at several sites in France. Leakey distinguished herself as a scientific illustrator of ancient and…
On January 5, 1874, American neurophysiologist Joseph Erlanger was born. Studies in chemistry, research, and medicine at Johns Hopkins gained him an internship with William Osler in internal medicine. Within the year, Erlanger became more interested in research and teaching than in practicing medicine.…
On December 29, 1863, cardiologist Wilhelm His Jr. was born in Basel, Switzerland. He was the son of a Swiss embryologist who constructed the first microtome, a tool that cuts extremely thin slices or sections of material for microscopic examination. Why the heart beats…
On December 28, 1895, the Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, unveiled their Cinématographe for the first time to the public. Paris was filled with the buzz and excitement about the event because up until now it had only been shown at private screenings. Almost…
On December 27, 1822, French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur was born. His skill grew as he followed each successful investigative step to reach greater insight and result. Pasteur based his work in observation and the understanding of that observation. He first solved a…
On December 22, 1912, conservationist Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor Johnson was born. First Lady of the United States [1963-1969], Johnson led many initiatives over her lifetime involving environmentalism, conservation, and anti-pollution. Canoeing along tree-lined lakeshores, hiking nature trails, or nurturing wildflower meadows, Johnson…
On December 21, 1773, Scottish botanist Robert Brown was born. He studied medicine, then botany. He met Sir Joseph Banks, Royal Society president, who offered Brown access to his books and plant specimens. Banks further recommended Brown for the naturalist post aboard HMS Investigator,…
On December 16, 1811, the first of the series of New Madrid earthquakes occurred in a pair in northeast Arkansas. [The second principal shock, in Missouri, January 23, 1812; the third, along the Reelfoot fault in Missouri and Tennessee, February 7, 1812]. Each had…
On December 15, 1612, astronomer Simon Marius [Mayr or Mayer] became the first modern observer to locate and describe the Andromeda galaxy. Telescopy being in its infancy, however, he detailed how its shape to his eye appeared like that of a candle flame. The…