Great people in the history of science.. Nobel between the Polish genius and the German doctor
Great people in the history of science..Nobel PrizeBetween the Polish genius and the German doctor
The history of science is filled with a large number of greats in many fields between different time periods. Hence, we highlight with you three of the most prominent scientists whose birth dates coincide with the months covered by the last quarter issue of 2023 of the Earth Guards magazine. Let us briefly highlight their most important pioneering achievements.
October 21, 1833: Alfred Nobel
I do not think that any of us has ever heard of Alfred Nobel, that distinguished Swedish scientist, whose prize is given every year to the most prominent scientists and writers around the world.
Nobel was an exceptional chemical engineer and inventor, holding many patents. Most of them revolved around making explosive materials that could be transported and used safely. In 1867, Alfred invented dynamite, which made its way into widespread use in quarries and mining areas around the world, as a safe solution for breaking up huge rock blocks.
This was followed by many other inventions, such as gelignite and ballestite, both of which are, of course, explosive materials. But all of these inventions found a popular market for use in wars and the manufacture of weapons, which prompted Nobel to make everything he won during his life in the form of a prize given to the most prominent scientists.
November 7, 1867: Marie Curie
It is enough to mention that she is the only scientist who was able to win the Nobel Prize twice in two different scientific fields (physics and chemistry); This is due to its exceptional work in the field of radioactivity.
She discovered – with her husband, Pierre Curie – the elements radium and polonium. She also developed a theory of radioactivity, in addition to inventing a set of techniques for separating radioactive isotopes, after which she supervised experiments and research in treating tumors using these isotopes. It is also nice to mention here that she and her husband chose the name polonium in honor of the country in which she was born: “Poland.”
During the years of her life, Curie represented a model of what women could achieve in the field of science and engineering, as she was able to hold many prestigious academic positions, overcoming major societal obstacles at that time.
December 11, 1843: Robert Koch
He is called the father of modern bacteriology, and the father of microbiology; This German doctor is credited with discovering the causative agents of a number of infectious and fatal diseases, the most prominent of which are: tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax.
Koch’s life was full of discoveries and inventions. He was the first to grow bacteria in the laboratory, using glass plates, a technique that was later developed under the name Petri dish. He was the first to prove that the transmission of diseases is due to the presence of living microorganisms that play this role.
Koch studied many epidemics, including: cholera, malaria, and plague. He also discovered the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, in addition to numerous research on this subject. In 1905, he won the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
