On November 28, 1660, the first “learned society” meeting followed a lecture at Gresham College in London by Christopher Wren. Joined by other leading polymaths at the time, including Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, and Sir Robert Moray, the group soon received royal…
Read MoreThe Great Meteor Shower of 1833 was a spectacular celestial event that left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it. On the nights of November 12 and 13, 1833, the skies lit up across the United States. one of the most intense meteor…
Read MoreOn October 12, 1828, the suffering at Boston’s Children’s Hospital got a breath of fresh air by deploying the iron lung for the first time. In the annals of medical history, one invention stands as a testament to human ingenuity, a life-saving marvel known…
Read MoreOn September 26, 1905, Albert Einstein published the third and final portion of what’s been called the Annus Mirabilis papers, a collection of groundbreaking scientific papers that revolutionized the world of science and had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe. These…
Read MoreOn August 25, 1609, the Italian astronomer and philosopher Galilei Galileo debuted something to Venetian merchants that would make him both a legend and a heretic–his telescope. The Guardian writes, “A refinement of models first devised in the Netherlands, Galileo’s slim, brown stick was puny…
Read MoreOn August 18, 1868, one of the most abundant gases in the universe was discovered. Though less common on Earth, the discovery of helium marked a significant milestone in the history of chemistry and physics and has been credited to two scientists who made…
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