Let’s applaud... Discover the amazing achievements of these SCIENTIFIC SUPERSTARS from around the world. Brahmagupta (598–670) Indian astronomer Brahmagupta wrote books on mathematics and astronomy in poetry. He also ESTABLISHED rules for the number zero, fractions, and positive and negative numbers.
Bhaskara ˉ I (c.600–c.680) The first person to use a circle to represent zero in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was Indian MATHEMATICIAN and writer Bhˉaskara I. Although not much is known about his life, his writing centred on the planets, stars, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
Jane Marcet (1769–1858) With the publication of her book Conversations on Chemistry in 1806, Englishwoman Jane Marcet became the world’s FIRST FEMALE SCIENCE WRITER. Aimed at uneducated girls, her work soon crossed the boundaries of gender, age, and race.
When an electric current flows through a wire, it produces a magnetic field like a magnet. André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836) French physicist Ampère established the new science of electric currents and magnetic fields, now called electromagnetism. His name is still heard today with the term AMPERE, the unit used to measure electric current. 124
Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780–1849) German chemist Döbereiner was known for spotting similarities between elements and grouping them together. He HELPED TO DEVELOP Dmitri Mendeleev’s periodic table into the version used today.
Mary Somerville (1780–1872) The existence of the planet Neptune was correctly PREDICTED by this Scottish astronomer and science writer. In 1835, both Mary and German astronomer Caroline Herschel became the first female members of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Maria Mitchell (1818–1889) This American astronomer is best known for spotting a comet through her telescope in 1847. At the time King Frederick VI of Denmark was giving prizes for the discovery of new comets, so Miss Mitchell’s Comet WON her a medal.
George Washington Carver (c.1864–1943) This African-American scientist and inventor was nicknamed the Peanut Man after his research on crops, including peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. He also developed the TREATMENT for polio patients using peanut oil for massages.
Linus Pauling (1901–1994) With hundreds of scientific papers to his name, American chemist Pauling wrote about chemical bonds and biology. He was the first person to win two individual NOBEL PRIZES – for Chemistry in 1954 and for Peace in 1962.
