This month in Science History – Scientists born in February!
Science is constantly evolving, helping us understand the world better. Throughout history, some of the greatest inventors and scientists were born in the month of February. Their contributions to the field of science have changed the way we understand and perceive the world today. But most importantly, they inspire us to work hard, question more and trust our instincts in order to reach our goals, just like they did!
Here are a few famous scientists born in the month of February!
Emilio Segrè
Born: 1st Feb 1905
Profession: A physicist
Honours: Nobel Prize in Physics
Known for: Discovering the antiproton, a subatomic antiparticle, and the elements technetium and astatine
Dmitri Mendeleev
Born: 8th Feb 1834
Profession: A chemist and an inventor
Honours: Davy Award, Copley Medal and Demidov Prize
Known for: Discovering the Periodic Law and creating the periodic table by arranging the elements according to their atomic weights
Beulah Louise Henry
Born: 11th Feb 1887
Profession: A scientist and an inventor
Honours: Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Known for: Nicknamed as ‘Lady Edison’, her inventions include a bobbin-free sewing machine and a vacuum ice cream freezer
Galileo Galilei
Born: 15th Feb 1564
Profession: Astronomer, scientist, engineer, and a mathematician
Honours: He did not win any awards during his lifetime. He spent much of his career as a scientist being persecuted by the Catholic Church for his beliefs.
Known for: Recognised as the “Father of observational astronomy”, the “Father of modern physics”, the “Father of the scientific method”, and the “Father of modern science”, he is known for discovering Jupiter’s four moons, advancing telescope technology, heliocentrism and kinematics
Mary Anderson
Born: 19th Feb 1866
Profession: A real estate developer, rancher, viticulturist, and an inventor
Honours: inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Known for: Inventing the windshield wiper blade that helps remove rain, snow, ice and debris from a windscreen or windshield
Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
Born: 21th Feb 1894
Profession: A colloid chemist, an academic, and scientific administrator.
Honours: Padma Bhushan, Knight Bachelor, Fellow of the Royal Society Award and most excellent Order of the British Empire Medal
Known for: Revered as the ‘Father of research laboratories’ for promoting scientific research during the industrial revolution in independent India, he made significant contributions to the field of magneto-chemistry
So whom do you share your birthday with? Do tell us about your favorite scientists and how they have inspired you.
Like this story? Read similar stories on The Learning Tree page.