Today in Science Blog Posts
Happy Birthday, Samuel P. Langley
The person behind the NASA Langley Research Center, Samuel P. Langley once invented a system of standardized time in order to get more funding for his astronomical observatory.
Happy Birthday, Frederick Sanger
Thanks to English biochemist Frederick Sanger, we have a method for sequencing DNA, which has enabled us to learn more about the building blocks of life.
Defeating Giant Movie Monsters Using Mathematical Modeling
The predator-prey equation can predict how we’d fare in a monster invasion, as well as real-world biology and ecology scenarios like shark overpopulation and tumor movement.
Happy Birthday, Joseph Keller
Mathematician Joseph Keller is best known for his geometrical theory of diffraction, but he also pursued other areas of study, even developing a teapot spout that doesn’t spill.
Happy Birthday, Friedrich Bessel
Friedrich Bessel could have led a comfortable life had he stayed in his career at a commercial firm. Instead, he was inspired to study astronomy, physics, and planetary behavior and movement…
5 Facts for 50 Years: The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
Think you know everything about the Apollo 11 mission? We go over 5 fun facts about the landmark aeronautical event in celebration of the 50-year anniversary.
What Do Lobster Shells Have to Do with Body Armor?
Believe it or not, lobster are potentially paving the way for innovations in body armor and soft robotics due to the unique properties of the translucent membrane on the underside of their tails.
Happy Birthday, Maria Goeppert Mayer
2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126 were the “magic numbers” that led Maria Goeppert Mayer to develop the first mathematical model for nuclear shells in an atom.
Happy Birthday, James Clerk Maxwell
Maxwell’s equations, which describe how electric and magnetic fields behave and interact, revolutionized electromagnetics. Did you know that James Clerk Maxwell also took the first color photo?
How Does Sand Move on Mars? A Planetary Geology Question
There are a lot of sand dunes on the red planet. Studying how sand and sediment moves on Mars may help scientists better plan exploratory missions.
Happy Birthday, Esther M. Conwell
Esther M. Conwell’s list of accolades is almost as long as her list of accomplishments in semiconductor research. Just as impressive, this physicist inspired a new generation of STEM learners.
Happy Birthday, Elsie Eaves
Elsie Eaves was one of the first female civil engineers and is celebrated as a role model for future engineers.
Happy Birthday, Carl Friedrich Gauss
Gauss’ perfectionism in the field of mathematics paid off: Today, there is a statistical distribution curve and entire electromagnetics unit system named in his honor.
Happy Birthday, Max Planck
When Max Planck was young, a teacher told him that there was nothing left to discover in the world of physics. Fortunately for us, and the field of quantum mechanics, Planck had other plans…
Happy Birthday, Charles Proteus Steinmetz
Today’s engineering students benefit from Steinmetz’s work on alternating currents and magnetism. How much do you know about the man behind the law of hysteresis?
A Calculated Victory: Karen Keskulla Uhlenbeck Wins 2019 Abel Prize
What inspires you about Karen Keskulla Uhlenbeck, the 2019 Abel Prize Laureate and first woman to win the award? Learn about her career and research as well as the history of the Abel Prize.
Happy Birthday, Emmy Noether
During a time when women were not welcome in STEM fields, Emmy Noether made many significant contributions to modern mathematics, including abstract algebra and an invariant theorem.
Happy Birthday, Sir William Henry Perkin
This chemist went from studying at the Royal College of Chemistry and researching malaria treatment to synthesizing the first synthetic dye and running a dye shop and manufacturing plant…
Happy Birthday, Ida Noddack
Ida Noddack was one of the “element hunters” trying to fill the gaps in Dmitri Mendeleev’s periodic table. In the process, she codiscovered rhenium, but that’s not all she’s known for…
Happy Birthday, Ernst Mach
Mach bands, Mach numbers, Mach’s principle: Ernst Mach is an accomplished physicist of many namesake discoveries and contributions to science.
Should You Freeze Your Coffee Beans?
Storing coffee beans in the freezer has been described as a clever life hack and a quick way to get frost and condensation in your favorite blend. Could food science research give us answers?
Happy Birthday, Dmitri Mendeleev
2019 marks the 150-year anniversary of Dmitri Mendeleev’s discovery of the periodic table of chemical elements. Learn more about the Russian chemist behind one of science’s most useful tools.
Happy Birthday, Berta Karlik
Berta Karlik helped discover the naturally occurring version of element 85, astatine. She was also the first woman to teach at the University of Vienna.
An Homage to Stephen Hawking
We reflect on Stephen Hawking’s life as well as his contributions to cosmology, including A Brief History of Time, black holes, zero-gravity flight, and beyond.