Results for: Biography
William Smith (1769-1839)
May 8, 2008William Smith discovered that he could identify rock layers by the unique fossils they held. His discovery helped later generations of scientists to understand the history of life on Earth. Read more
Nicolaus Steno
July 20, 2004Although he lived at a time when people believed in witches and unicorns, Nicolaus Steno established some of the most important principles of modern geology. Read more
Joanne Simpson
April 28, 2004Joanne Simpson became the first woman Ph.D. meteorologist. She also pioneered studies of cloud models, hurricanes, weather modification, and guided the development of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. Read more
Rachel Carson
November 13, 2002Few books have altered the course of history—Silent Spring was one of them. The tidal wave of protest that followed its publication in 1962 forced the banning of the pesticide DDT and resulted in revolutionary changes in public perception about our air, land, and water. It helped launch the modern environmental movement. Read more
Verner Suomi
October 30, 2001Using a unique combination of determination, hard work, inspiration, and those freshman physics, Suomi became known as the "father of satellite meteorology." His research and inventions have radically improved forecasting and our understanding of global weather. Read more
John Martin
July 10, 2001John Martin devoted his career to understanding the basic chemical processes that govern life in the ocean. His famous ‘iron hypothesis’ not only changed the way in which scientists view the ocean, but also introduced a controversial method for lowering carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. Read more
Wernher von Braun
May 2, 2001Wernher von Braun's crowning achievement, as head of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, was to direct the mission to land the first men on the Moon in July 1969. Read more
Alfred Wegener
February 8, 2001Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift - the idea that the Earth's continents move over hundreds of millions of years of geologic time - long before the idea was commonly accepted. Read more
Robert Goddard
October 16, 2000Robert Goddard developed and test-launched some of the first liquid fueled rockets. Read more
Vilhelm Bjerknes
August 14, 2000Vilhelm Bjerknes is considered by many to be one of the founders of modern meteorology and weather forecasting. Read more
Roger Revelle
June 19, 2000Roger Revelle was one of the world's most articulate spokesmen for science and an early predictor of global warming. Read more
Samuel Pierpont Langley
May 3, 2000Samuel Langley was one of America's most accomplished scientists. His work as an astronomy, physics, and aeronautics pioneer was highly regarded by the international science community. Read more
Milutin Milankovitch
March 24, 2000The Serbian astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch is best known for developing one of the most significant theories relating Earth motions and long-term climate change. He dedicated his career to developing a mathematical theory of climate based on the seasonal and latitudinal variations of solar radiation received by the Earth. Read more
Svante Arrhenius
January 18, 2000Svante Arrhenius was the first person to investigate the effect that doubling atmospheric carbon dioxide would have on global climate. Read more
John Tyndall
October 8, 1999In 1859, John Tyndall's experiments showed that even in small quantities, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone absorbed much more heat than the rest of the atmosphere. Read more
Benjamin Franklin
August 13, 1999Famous for studying lightning by flying a kite in a thunderstorm, American Benjamin Franklin also contributed to early scientific knowledge of weather, climate, and oceanography. Read more
