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Period: 1500 to
SR Timeline
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1508
Nicolaus Copernicus - Heliocentric theory
Scholars believe Nicolaus Copernicus developed his Heliocentric theory in 1508, where the sun is the center of the solar system, rather the Earth. This theory lead to many inventions and much deeper research and experiments into the revolution of the planets. This technically started the scientific revolution because people would go into much better and more experiments and research on a theory, rather then go with religious beliefs.
https://www.biography.com/people/nicolaus-copernicus-9256984 -
1573
Andreas Vesalius - Human anatomy
Andreas Vesalius revolutionized the study of biology and the practice of medicine by his careful description of the anatomy of the human body. Andreas discovered the shape and insides of the human body, such as organs and bone structure. This discovery motivated many scientists to discover the anatomy in more animals then just humans, which greatly increased the knowledge on life and animals.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andreas-Vesalius -
Zaccharias Janssen (and his father Hans) and the Microscope
Zaccharias Janssen and his father Hans invented the earliest stages of the microscope, where they put different lenses over each other to enhance the microscope to about 10x. This ground-breaking discovery of the microscope allowed humans to see much smaller then they could with the human eye. For example, at sometime during the late 1500s, the magnifying glasses were used to examine small insects, so they were called "flea glasses"
http://www.visioneng.com/resources/history-of-the-microscope -
Johannes Keppler - Math & Models
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) used mathematics and models to further prove the heliocentric theory. Once he did this, many scientists, astronomers and mathematicians followed his lead, using models and mathematics to back up experiments and data.
http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/kepler.html -
Galileo Galilei - Telescope
Galileo made his first telescope in 1609, modeled after telescopes produced in other parts of Europe that could magnify objects three times. This new invention not only proved the heliocentric theory further, but led to much more discoveries in the future of the scientific revolution. This invention alllowed scientist to be able to look much further, not only into space but it enabled the ability to look into much smaller objects. http://galileo.rice.edu/bio/narrative_6.html -
René Descartes - Philosopher and mathematician
René Descartes is regarded as the father of modern philosophy for defining a starting point for existence, “I think; therefore I am.” Descartes also formed a scientific rule that "No assumptions could be accepted without question". Descartes was extremely famous for his quotes of science, and how we still use them today.
https://www.biography.com/people/ren-descartes-37613 -
Francis Bacon - Lawyer, Academic, Academic, Scientist
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was best known for his promotion of the scientific method. Bacon developed a new method that involved gathering data, prudently analyzing it and performing experiments to observe nature's truths in an organized way.
https://www.biography.com/people/francis-bacon-9194632 -
Barometer - device used to measure atmospheric pressure
The barometer, created in 1643, was used to measure atmospheric pressure. This invention allowed scientists to discover that the higher the elevation above sea level the less oxygen is in the air. This got scientists thinking just how far we could go, so it had a spark on space discovery.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/barometer -
Anton van Leeuwenhoek - Lenses
Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) crafted the lenses used in microscopes. Using handcrafted microscopes, Anton was the first person to observe and describe single celled organisms, which he originally referred to as animalcules, which we now refer to as microorganisms. Anton's discovery of the microorganisms was a scientific breakthrough. This allowed us to recognize bacteria, muscle fibers and blood flow. http://www.history-of-the-microscope.org/anton-van-leeuwenhoek-microscope-history.php -
Otto Von Guericke - Air Pump
In 1650, Otto von Guericke (1602-1683) invented the air pump, which he used to create a partial vacuum. This invention allowed Guericke to discover Vacuum, where the air is removed from a space causing extreme air pressure outside of the space and pulling in. The air pump was also sued to discover many other things, and we still use the air pump today.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Otto-von-Guericke#ref233736 -
William Harvey - Physician
William Harvey (1578-1657). Harvey’s greatest achievement was to recognize that the blood flows rapidly around the human body, being pumped through a single system of arteries and veins, and to support this hypothesis with experiments and arguments. Harvey discovered blood flow and the circulation system, allowing scientists to go into deeper investigation and discover the respiratory system.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Harvey -
Robert Boyle
In 1659 Robert Boyle (1627 - 1621) and Robert Hooke completed the construction of their famous air pump and used it to study pneumatic. One of their findings, published in 1662, later became known as “Boyle’s law.” This law expresses the inverse relationship that exists between the pressure and volume of a gas, and it was determined by measuring the volume occupied by a constant quantity of air when compressed by differing weights of mercury.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Boyle -
Robert Hooke
Robert Hooke (1635-1703), in 1678 published his theory of elasticity; he stated that the force required to extend or compress a spring is proportional to the distance of that extension or compression. This allowed scientists to play around with the theory and be more flexible with their materials. Robert Hooke also discovered cells, his best discovery of all. This helped scientists by far because he found what living things were made out of.
https://www.biography.com/people/robert-hooke-9343172 -
Isaac Newton - Laws of Motion, Gravity, Developed Most of the Laws of Physics
Isaac Newton (1643-1727) pretty much formed science as we know it today. Isaac Newton created the laws of motion, discovered gravity, and invented most of the laws of physics today. He also invented the reflecting telescope, for scientists to use on later theory. His own theory, the theory of gravity and motion, proved the heliocentric theory even further, confirming that it was a legitimate theory.
https://www.biography.com/people/isaac-newton-9422656 -
Thermometer
Thermometers (invented in 1593) measure temperature, by using materials that change in some way when they are heated or cooled. Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) was the German physicist who invented the alcohol thermometer in 1709, and the mercury thermometer in 1714. The thermometer allowed scientists to measure heat in an object, allowing for a lot more discoveries in the future.
http://theinventors.org/library/inventors/blthermometer.htm
