On September 7, 1914, American space scientist James Alfred Van Allen was born. In the International Geophysical Year [July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958] Van Allen reconfigured the radiation detectors he had designed for one rocket system to fly on a different system…
On February 21, 1849, Canadian inventor and surveyor, Édouard Gaston Daniel Deville was born in France. A naval school graduate who served in the French navy, he conducted marine surveys around Peru and South Pacific islands, using sounding lines, to measure and describe features…
On January 25, 1627, chemist, physicist, and inventor Robert Boyle was born in Ireland. He was one of the shakers and movers of the 17th century. It was helpful that he was moneyed and could pursue his interests as he chose. Thankfully for humankind,…
On November 17, 1865, Canadian astronomer and astrophysicist John Stanley Plaskett was born in Hickson, Ontario. A trained mechanic and electrician, he accepted a position at University of Toronto where he was employed to apply his skills to the design, construction, and maintenance of…
On August 30, 1935, marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Alice Earle was born. She has spent four decades of undersea exploration and has led underwater research expeditions not only for oceanographic research societies but also for investigations into oil spill impact. Serving a term…
On July 14, 1862, geologist Florence Bascom was born. As a youngster, she accompanied her father and his university associates on field trips and was hooked on geology after an early trip to Mammoth Cave. Advancing through school and into university, Bascom became interested…
On December 17, 1972, the recovery ship USS Ticonderoga picked up the Apollo 17 command module from the Pacific Ocean. The splashdown, a return-to-Earth routine of manned spacecraft in that day, marked the capping moment of the capping mission of the Apollo manned lunar…
On May 26, 1951, astrophysicist Sally Ride was born. Selected to the first group of astronauts chosen for the space shuttle program, she was the first American woman in space. Ride received training in many fields for her NASA service and executed several astronaut…
On May 24, 1686, self-taught physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was born. He was also a self-taught engineer and, having once worked as a glass blower, became an innovative maker of scientific instruments. At the time, although thermometers were available for trade, no two ever…
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…