Posted on December 27, 2021
This is an update of my post published on December 27, 2010:
Two giants of science were born on this day (251 years apart!).
On December 27, 1571, Johannes Kepler was born in Germany. His claim to gigantic-ness—he is even called the Father of Modern Astronomy!— is that he figured out that the planets travel in elliptical (oval-shaped) orbits rather than round orbits, and he figured out three major laws of planetary motion. Sir Isaac Newton’s law of gravitation had their genesis in Kepler’s laws. Kepler also suggested that the tides were caused by the attraction of the moon. All of that is pretty gigantic!
In 1822, Louis Pasteur was born in France.
Pasteur’s claim to gigantic-ality—he is considered one of the founders of microbiology!—is that he discovered much about causes and preventions of diseases: he developed the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax, invented pasteurization of milk, and discovered the role of bacteria in fermentation and was therefore able to improve the manufacture of wine.
For more on Kepler’s Three Laws, try Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos”…
Here is a video on how one of Louis Pasteur’s discoveries not only changed science, but also changed the public’s knowledge of – and caring about – science!
Also on this date:
Stanley Sports Day in the Falkland Islands
Anniversary of the opening of Radio City Music Hall
Kwanzaa (from 12/26/11 to 1/1/12)
Visit the Zoo Day
Anniversary of Carrie Nation smashing a bar
Anniversary of the passage of the Laws of Burgos
Day of the Constitution in North Korea
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest pages on:
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December holidays
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December birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in December
And here are my Pinterest boards for:
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January holidays
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January birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in January