Who is Halley Comet ?

Edmond Halley was an English scientist who became very interested in a comet that he saw in 1682. After being told that a similar comet had appeared in 1531 and 1607, he suspected that it was the same comet that he had seen. By using the laws of gravity discovered by his friend Sir Isaac Newton, Halley realised that he could predict when it would return. Halley worked out that the comet would appear in our skies every 75 to 76 years.

He was correct in his prediction, but sadly when the comet did reappear, he was no more, and he could not witness the confirmation he had waited for so eagerly. In his honour, the comet was named after him. Though he is remembered foremost as an astronomer. Halley also made significant discoveries in the fields of geography, mathematics, meteorology, and physics. Halley was very close to Newton.

Why is Pythagoras considered one of the greatest scientists of all time?

Pythagoras was an Ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher who lived more than 500 years before Christ. He spent most of his life in the Greek colonies in Sicily and southern Italy. He was also a philosopher, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Pythagoras had a group of disciples who followed him around, and taught other people what he had taught them. He made crucial contributions to modern philosophy, as well as mathematics, science, and religious mysticism. It is also believed that he had a significant influence on medicine, music, astronomy, and divination. Pythagoras is best known for the mathematical theory named after him. He is without doubt, one of the greatest scientists not only of the ancient world, but of all time.

Why is Alhazen known as the pioneer of modern optics?

Born in the tenth century AD, Alhazen was an Arab who was known as the first true scientist. He developed the scientific method of experimentation, and was the first person to formulate hypothesis and conduct verifiable experiments. A scientist, philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, Alhazen wrote over a hundred books, more than half of which have been preserved. One of his most influential writings was in the field of optics. In this book Alhazen gave experimental proof of the nature of light, the structure of the eye and the basic principles of reflection via mirror. He stated that contrary to popular belief, the eye does not send out rays to the object it sees. Rather it is the light reflected via the object that the eye beholds. This was a completely new and revolutionary concept. The book comprises sevenvoles, and was translated into Latin.

Antonie van Leeuwen-hoek called "Father of Microbiology"

Antonie van Leeuwen-hoek was a 17th century Dutch scientist. He is best known for discovering protozoa, and creating more than 500 simple microscopes. Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to closely observe cells under a microscope. One of his most groundbreaking discover100 Great Sies was also one of his first. His observations, in 1674, of scummy pond water, led to the first visual descriptions and illustrations of such common organisms as the algae spirogyra. This contributed towards the foundation of several branches of biology. He made one of the first recorded observations of bacteria when he studied the plaque from his teeth. He noticed what he called animalcules' in the saliva sample. These animalcules were actually bacteria. He gave cells their name because he thought they resembled the shape of a monk's quarters. Although Van Leeuwen-hoek never received any formal scientific training, he is considered to be the father of microbiology for his contributions to that f...

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