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Biography.
Scientists- Living.
1. Dr. Ashoke Sen. Birth 1956 India  |
Scientists - modern.
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee 1955-  Life- A British computer scientist, Contributions- He found the "World wide web” He proposed to share the information with the world wide web using HTTP. (HyperText Transfer Protocol) He made the first web site in 1991. Awards and accolades- Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He was named in Time magazine's list of the 100 most important people of the 20th Century.. He was received the Turing award, which is considered as the Nobel Prize for computing. It carried $1 million prize, with financial support provided by Google, Inc.
2. Bohr Neils. Niels Bohr --  Life- Danish1885-1962 Contributions- He showed that the electrons orbited at definite levels and they emitted energy as they descend. Awards- In 1922 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. The element Bohrium was named to honour himRemarks- He had problems with the Nazis and escaped to Britain. After the war, Bohr called for international cooperation on nuclear energy.
C Crick Francis Francis Crick 1916-2004 and James Watson (b. 1928) together discovered the double helix structure of DNA, the "blueprint of life." Surprisingly, Curie Marie Marie Curie Curie Marie . 1867-1934 Click for more information.
Working closely with her husband she discovered the elements Polonium and Radium. D E Einstein Albert Albert Einstein Einstein Albert. 1879-1955 Click for information. May have revolutionized scientific thought F Fermi Enrico Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) first became interested in physics when he was 14 years old. His brother had just died unexpectedly, and while looking for an escape from reality, Richard P Feynman 1918 – 1988 US. “You can encode the whole of Encyclopedia Britannica on the head of a pin”. So said, ‘One of the funniest fellows who ever juggled a bunch of atoms’. G Goddard Robert Robert Goddard (1882-1945), considered by many to be the father of modern rocketry, was the very first to successfully launch a liquid-fueled rocket. H Hubble Edwin
Hawking Stephen .
 Life- As a teenager he was nicknamed as 'Einstein' Contributions- He showed i. the Universe began as a singularity. ii.the existence of Hawking’s radiation from Black holes. Awards and Accolades- He ascended to the chair that Sir Isaac Newton held. Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. Remarks- Generally considered as the most brilliant scientist since Einstein. 
A question answered:- How is gold produced? The collision of neutron stars is one way of producing gold. It can also be formed from fast neutron capture in supernovas. Gold is rare everywhere, not just on Earth. The reason it's rare is that by nuclear-binding energy peaks at iron, making it hard to produce heavier elements in general. Also strong electromagnetic repulsion must be overcome by the nuclear force in order to form stable heavy nuclei like gold. I J J K L M Glen Martin b 1981- New Zealand
N O P Pavlov
Plank Max
. Q R S Jonas Salk (1914-1995)
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Scientists- Ancient.
" Science entered a new era with the Renaissance, which began in 14th century Italy. By the 17th century it had extended and blossomed throughout most of Europe." Famous scientists. A
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Neils Bohr.
 Neils Bohr 1885 -1962 A Danish stamp issued in 1963. 1885 Niels Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Father- Christian Bohr, a celebrated Physician. Mother -Ellen Adler coming from a well educated rich family.
1891 Age 6 Yrs. Niel entered the Grammelholms school. In his class of about 20 students, he did well usually coming third or fourth.. 1898 Age 12 Yrs. His teacher found it difficult to cope up. He often found errors in his text books. It was his father who guided him in physics and mathematics more than the teachers. “My interest in the study of physics was awakened while I was still in school, largely owing to the influence of my father”. As a student he won a gold medal from the Academy of Sciences in Copenhagen for solving a physics problem.
On a post graduate scholarship he was selected to work at Cambridge, UK with Nobel Laureate J.J. Thomson. The association did not go according to expectations. He was not impressed by the research work there.
Fig.2.Bohr married Margrethe Nørlund. He started working with Professor Rutherford in Manchester and was able to make considerable improvements to the nuclear model of the atom. The families of Bohr and Rutherford became intimate, life long friends.
1913 Age 28 yrs. Lecturer in Physics at Copenhagen University. Fig.3.Courtesy: Encyclopedia Britannica.
According to him when the electrons absorb energy, they make an instant jump to a higher orbit. When they emit electromagnetic radiation they come down to a lower orbit. The chemical element Bohrium , Bh, Atomic No. 107 was named after him. This model came to be known as the Rutherford -Bohr model of the atom.
1922 Age 37 yrs. He was awarded the Nobel prize in Physics . The Carlsberg brewery gave him a house, next to the brewery with a direct pipeline for free beer. 1926 to 1927 Werner Heisenberg worked as an assistant to Bohr.
He developed the concept of complementarity, a key principle in quantum mechanics. According to this certain properties cannot be observed or measured at the same time. A good example would be the nature of light which can be observed or measured as a wave or a particle but not at the same time. Fig.4. Neils Bohr pondering over the thought experiments of Einstein. Einstein was very reluctant to accept quantum mechanics. He continued to harass Bohr with thought experiments which Bohr used to answer defending the quantum theory. He predicted the existence of a new element which was later found and named as hafnium , the latin name for Copenhagen. 1943 Age 58 yrs. He fled to Sweden and from there to Britain as Nazis wanted to arrest him. In Britain he worked on a nuclear weapons project and assisted the Manhattan project in America.  Fig.5. Mr and Mrs Bohr. 1954 Age 69 Yrs. He played a major role in starting particle physics research facility, CERN.” Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire.” 1955 Age 70 Yrs. He took a leading role at the ‘Atoms for Peace Conference.’ 1957 Age 72 yrs. He got the “Atoms for peace award.”
Fig,6. 1975 One of his sons Aage Bohr, received the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to Aage Niels Bohr, Ben Roy Mottelson and Leo James Rainwater "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection". "During my early childhood, my parents lived at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (now the Niels Bohr Institute), and the remarkable generation of scientists who came to join my father in his work became for us children Uncle Kramers, Uncle Klein, Uncle Nishina, Unc Uncle Heisenberg, Uncle Pauli, etc."
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Edward Jenner.
 Dr.Edward Jenner. 1749 – 1823 U.K Father of Immunology. Created a Landmark in medical treatments by creating a vaccination for the deadly disease small pox.
1749 Born in Berkley Gloucestershire. His father was a clergyman. He was the eighth of the nine children born to Reverend Stephen Jenner, and his wife Sarah. 1755 Age 6 yrs. Jenner went to school in Wotton-under-Edge and Cirencester 1763 Age 14 Yrs. He became an apprentice to Dr. Daniel Ludlow, for seven years. 1770 Age 21 yrs. He moved to St. George's Hospital in London. 1772 Age 23 yrs. He returned to Berkley after some training in London and became a general practitioner. Showed a keen interest in wild life. 1788 Age 38 yrs. He married. Catharine Kingscote 1796 Age 46 yrs. He inserted pus taken from a cow pox patient into the arms of the 8 year old James Phipps. The boy became immune to the deadly disease small pox. Small pox killed one in 3 patients that got the disease and disfigured the survivors. 1797 Age 47 yrs. He submitted a paper to Royal society describing his experiment. The society was not willing to accept but requested him to get more evidence. Jenner injected several children including his 11 year old son. 1798 Age 48 yrs. He published the results even using the name ‘Vaccine’ for the process. ( Vacca is the latin we 1804 Age 54 yrs. He gave up his medical practice and devoted full time for the eradication f the disease. Napoleon honoured him by minting a special coin.
1823 Age 74 yrs. He became paralyzed and made a peaceful exit.
1840 The government of the day banned any other treatment for smallpox other than Jenner’s. 1980, The World Health Organisation declared that smallpox was extinct throughout the world. |
Haldane
J.B.S.Haldane. JBS Haldane had a degree in Classics and Mathematics but he became a world renowned Bio-physicist. The sphere of 'population genetics' was his own invention. As he did not believe any supernatural interference in his experiments he stressed that he was an atheist in real life too. He became a communist and wrote a regular column on scientific topics to the party Newspaper. Although he believed in Marxism he left the party in 1950 due to the brutal conduct of Jeseph Stalin in USSR.
He learned to read. 1900 Age 8 Yrs.
1907 Age 15 Yrs. He studied Mathematics and classics. 1912 Age 20Yrs. He published his first scientific paper while being a graduate student. He joine the British army at the World war I. 1915 Age 23Yrs. He published a paper on genetics written with his sister Naomi. 1922 Age 30Yrs. He taught biochemistry at Trinity College, Cambridge. 1924 Age 32Yrs. He met Charlott Burghes, the reporter and the wife of Jack Burghes. 1926 Age 34Yrs. He marrie the divorcee Charlotte which led to some unpopularity at Cambridge. 1929 Age 37Yrs. Combining Mathematics and Biology he introduced the subject "Population Genetics". An article written by him introduced the hypothesis " Primordial Soup theory" ( Now called abiogenesis.) This was also develope by the Russian biochemist Alexander Oparin. Oparin-Haldane theory. 1933 Age 41Yrs. At a speech he introduced the iea of using Hydrogen as a fuel. 1932 Age 42Yrs. Visiting Professor at University of California, Berkeley. He constructed Gene maps for Haemophilia and colour blindness on X chromosomes.. He also had a theory on Sickle cell disease. Professor of Genetics, Universirty of London. He helped to merge Menelion Genetics and Darwins theory of evolution. ( This was broadened by Richar Dawkind in 1976 book "selfish gene") He was the first to suggest Invitro fertilisation. 1942 Age 52Yrs. He divorced Charlotte after a period of separation. He divorced Charlotte after a period of separation. He later married Helen Spurway. 1956 Age 67Yrs. Emigrated to India. Worked at the Indian Statistical Institute. 1964 Age 75Yrs. Even in death he helped the science and the humanity by donating hiss body for meical studies. COMMENTS. Arthur C. Clarke credited him as "perhaps the most brilliant scientific populariser of his generation" laureate Peter Medawar, recognised as the "wittiest and the cleverest man I ever knew". Click to read the poem "Carcinoma". |
Maurice Frederick Wilkins.
Prof. Maurice Wilkins. 1916 -- 2004.  " X ray crystal photograpy by Wilki Birth:- Maurice was born in Pangaroa in New Zealand. His father was a doctor of medicine immigrated from Ireland; his mother, Eveline Whittacker, was a school teacher . Both of Maurice's parents were committed vegetarians. While he was still a baby the family moved to the Wellington city and lived at No.30 Kelburn Parade. He has described his years in Wellington as the happiest of his life. 1922 Age 6 Yrs. The family migrated to England. He was admitted to King Edward’s School in Birmingham. 1935 Age 19Yrs. At Cambridge he joined the Cambridge Scientists Anti
War Group and the Communist party. 1938 Age 22 Yrs. He studied physics and graduated from the St John’s College , Cambridge. 1940 Age 24 Yrs. He obtained a PhD under the guidance of D.J.T. Randall from the Birmingham University. His thesis was mainly on a study of thermal stability of trapped electrons in phosphors, materials that emit light when exposed to radiation such as UV or an electron beam. During the war he applied these techniques to improve the cathode ray tube screens for radar. Moving on to Manhattan Project he worked on separation of Uranium isotopes for use in bombs. After the horrifying event that resulted in the nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Wilkins developed a very negative attitude toward nuclear weapons . He decided to work on a field of science with positive applications.. 1945 Age 29 Yrs. He obtained a lecturer post at St. Andrews' University in Scotland. 1946 Age 30Yrs. He joined the Biophysics research at King’s College, London. For some time he studied genetic effects on ultrasonics. 1948 Age 32 Yrs. He started research on reflecting microscopes for the study of nucleic acids in cells. His research on X-ray diffraction studies of DNA led to the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. 1950 Age 34Yrs. Wilkins became the Assistant Director of the Medical Research Council. In 1951, Sir John Randall hired the scientist Rosalind Franklin, an expert in X-ray crystallography to the unit, allegedly leading her to believe that she would head the research on DNA whereas Maurice thought she was taken as his assistant. This built up tension and an unhealthy relationship between them. 1953 Age 37 Yrs. He isolated single fibers of DNA and gathered some data about Nucleic acid structure. Wilkins was relatively quiet, reserved, and non-confrontational; meanwhile, Franklin was brusque, outspoken . They generally avoided each other. If Wilkins and Franklin had cooperated better, they might have been the first to discover DNA's structure. Much of Watson and Crick's model was based on photographs taken by Wilkins and Franklin. Wilkins work was published as supporting data to the Watson-Crick model, and he went on to do much of the experimental work to prove the model was correct. However, Watson and Crick exclusively became household names. James Watson who, with a friend and colleague of Wilkins’, Francis Crick, was working at the Cavendish Laboratory. Using a 1952 Wilkins/Franklin X-ray diffraction picture of the DNA molecule, Crick and Watson were able, to build their correct and detailed model of the DNA molecule.  Fig. 2. Maurice Wilkins with X-ray crystallographic equipment about 1954. ( Pic.Chemical Heritage Foundation.) 1955 Age 39 Yrs. He was promoted to be the Deputy Director. 1959 Age 43 Yrs. He obtained the FRS. Patricia Ann Chidgey became his second wife. 1960 Age 44Yrs. He shared the Albert Lasker Award jointly with Watson and Crick. 1962 Age 46 Yrs. Francis Crick, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for their discoveries. ( Rosalind Francis was dead by this time) 1981 Age 65 Yrs. Third man out. Wilkins retired but continued researching nucleic acid structure. He canvassed for high ethics in science and took an active part against armament race and causes of famine. 2004 Age 88 Yrs. Maurice Wilkins died . He had a daughter Sarah and a son George. His recreations were gardening and collecting of sculptures. |
Charles Darwin.
Charles Darwin 1809 -1882
 Fig.1 Charles Darwin. 12th Feb 1809- 1882 Fig. 2. Courtsey: Cartoon stock.com Place of birth Shrewsbury, England, If the Copernican theory of 1543 was a stone pelted at the Christendom, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, that came about 300 years later, was a grenade hurled at all human beliefs. Not only the religious few but even the agnostics and the atheists could not support the view that men have evolved from monkey like creatures. Yet within the lifetime of the author almost the entire scientific community and the the intelligentsia have accepted it. Biography of Charles Darwin Charles belonged to the third generation of scientists in a wealthy, pious Christian family. His father Robert Waring Darwin, was a practising doctor and the grandfather was the famous poet, philosopher and naturalist Erasmus Darwin. He had a happy childhood with 5 siblings. Just like any other child he picked up plants, pebbles and shells. Unlike other children he pursued this habit until his death. 1817 Age 8Yrs. He lost his mother, Susana Wedgwood, due to an illness. He was taken care of by his three elder sisters..He was at first educated by his sister, Caroline, before attending Revd Case's grammar school in Shrewsbury. 1818 Age 9Yrs. His father sent him to a boarding school, just across the river from his house, At this school Darwin learned the classics, ancient history, and Greek, all of which he found entirely boring. The subjects he appreciated were drama and poetry. 1822 Age 23Yrs His brother, Erasmus, started a chemistry lab in the garden shed in back of the house. Darwin acted as assistant to his older brother, and often worked on chemical reactions gaining some skills. 1825 Age 16Yrs. Two brothers, Erasmus and Charles gained admission to the University of Edinburgh for course in medicine. 1827 Age 18Yrs. While his brother continued to be trained as a doctor Charles had to give it up as the sight of blood made him sick. 1828 Age 19Yrs. He joined the Christ's College in Cambridge. Father’s next choice was for him to be a Clergyman; a degree from an English University was an essential requirement for this . At the beginning he liked it as it would give more free time for him to engage in nature studies. 1831 Age 22Yrs. While at Cambridge, William Fox, his cousin introduced him to a new hobby; collecting Beetles. He took it with a passion. He got an excellent training in this field including comparative anatomy, identifying, cataloguing and how to work efficiently in the field.
Fanny Owen, his girl friend, often scolded him for wasting his time with his beetles. When it came to crossroads he sacrificed romance to the love of Beetles. He obtained the BA degree and started learning Geology. He went on a geologic field trip to Wales. Captain Fitzroy of the ship H M S Beagle, who was on a project to survey the coastline of South America was looking for a Naturalist. Charles Darwin grabbed the opportunity being recommended by his Botany Professor. Against the wishes of his father he set sailed for a very very long voyage. For four or five years he was collecting facts on the life of plants, animals and geological phenomenon from across the world. In La Plata he saw a strange breed of oxen. From another place he picked up a fossilized tooth of a horse and more fossils in Patagonia. In Galapagos Islands he noted that every Island had its own kind of birds. On his voyage he sent packages of collected specimens and detailed notes several times to England. By the time he returned he had already become a well known naturalist. 1835 Age 26Yrs, On his return he decided not to seek employment but to be a full time investigator into natural phenomenon. He could well afford it due to family wealth. Sir Charles Lyell had written a new book, Principles of Geology which was a new approach to the subject. This common interest in the matters of the Earth bound them in a strong friendship. 1836 Age 27Yrs. His health deteriorated making him a nervous wreck. Completely lost interest in poetry and music. 1839 Age 30Yrs. He married his cousin Emma Wedgwood. 1842 Age 33Yrs. He moved to Kentish village leaving the London flat. 1851 Age 42Yrs Darwin’s 10 year daughter died and his condition worsened. 1854 Age 45Yrs He had formulated his theory by this time. ‘Many species were not as a result of creation, but had developed from slight differences in individuals. They have been brought about originally by the individual's special surroundings. Once formed they accentuated in his descendents. Those with the favourable traits survived while the others perished.” He agreed with the Malthus doctrine, ‘survival of the fittest’ and termed it “Natural Selection”.. When he explained this theory to the scientists, they all agreed that it was one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time. They urged him to publish the theory but he was reluctant. Probably his own theory has shocked him as he was a devout Christian himself. 1858 Age 49Yrs. Darwin received a letter from one of his admirers Alfred Russell Wallace. On reading this he got into a quandary.The writer had developed a theory of evolution , on his own which was quite similar to his own theory. When he requested the opinion of his friends as to what he should do, they were of opinion that both views should be read at the same time to the members of the Linnean Society.. As wallace was away he could not attend to it. Darwin missed the presentation. His son, 18 month old baby, died of scarlet fever. The revelations, surprisingly, did not make a stir among the learned members. 1859 Age 50Yrs. He published the book, “Origin of Species by Natural Selection:. The first edition was sold out the first day. Within a few years it was translated into almost every world language. Popularity of the author and the severe attacks made by the church made more and more people buy the book.Attacks came from people of all spheres ranging from Professors and Parsons to the cockneys. Only the scientists of the calibre of T H Huxley and Charles Lyell strongly supported the theory. “While the storm raged, Darwin remained silent”
1868 Age 59Yrs. He published a more precise version titled, “Variations of animals and plants”. 1871 Age 62Yrs. He published another book attempting to correct the mistaken views of the critics titled “Descent of Man”; by this time the storm had died down. 1881 Age 72Yrs. He got a heart attack but he survived. 1882 Age 73Yrs. Although he had willed to be buried in his village, according to the public outcry he was given a public funeral and set aside Sir Isaac Newton at West Minster. |
Faraday Michael.
Michael Faraday. 1791-1867 Date of Birth; - September 22nd. Michael was the third child of Margaret Hastwell and James Faraday who lived in a London suburb. James was a blacksmith struggling to get work; adding to the miseries his health deteriorated with time. The family though poor was tightly bonded together being the followers of the Sandemanian faith, a sect of the protestant church. Michael had on a rudimentary education, in a church school, where he learnt to read write and count. 1804 Age 13 Yrs. In an attempt to help his parents, Michal started to run errands for a book shop owner. It has been quoted that Michael had to manage one week with a single loaf of bread. 1805 Age14 Mr George Riebau , the owner of the book shop pleased with the performance and attitude of the lad made him an apprentice to the trade of book binding. Whenever he had some free time he got engrossed in a book. The employer instead of objecting, encouraged him in this pursuit. A few books on science determined his destiny. One described the production of an electric current, voltaic cells, and another gave simple demonstrations with common chemicals. He spent a part of his meagre salary to buy the ingredients necessary and carried out chemical magic to the entertainment of a few onlookers. 1810 Age 19Yrs. His father who was suffering from an illness for some time passed away. When he heard a famous scientist Mr. John Tatum was giving a lecture on Natural philosophy (Natural Philosophy was the term used for Physics at the time) He burrowed a shilling from his elder brother, who was also a black smith and attended it. He wanted to leave the book binding job and get into the sphere of science. So he wrote to Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society seeing an opportunity. He failed even to get a reply.
1812 Age 21Yrs. A customer of the book shop, who had probably seen one of his chemical displays gave him tickets to attend four lectures to be delivered by the world famous chemist Sir Humphrey Davy. He meticulously followed these taking down notes. He rewrote these very neatly adding illustrations. As he did not have a training in sketching, he begged lessons from an Italian artist in return for dusting his room and blackening his boots. He collected the papers in order and neatly bound them into a book of 350 pages and sent it to the lecturer. Sir Humphrey highly impressed and flattered promptly replied. “I am far from displeased with the proof you have given me of your confidence, which displays great zeal, power of memory, and attention…. It would gratify me to be of any service to you; I wish it may be in my power.” 1913 Age22Yrs. Humphrey Davy had an accident in his lab and that made him temporarily incapable of writing. He invited Faraday to help him in taking down notes. In the meantime Davy’s assistant was fired for assaulting the instrument maker. Davy employed Michael as a Chemical Assistant of the Royal Institution at a salary of 25 shillings a week and allotted a room for him to stay at his residence. 1814 Age 23Yrs. Despite the war between the two countries, Emperor Napoleon invited Sir Humphrey Davy for a lecture tour in France. The entourage, that set sailed from Plymouth, included Lady Humphrey, her maid and Michael Faraday who was included as the ‘Philosophical assistant’. The personal valet of Sir Humphrey got cold feet and refused to attend. As they had no time to find a new valet that responsibility also fell on Michael Faraday. Lady Humphrey who disliked Faraday, due to class difference, treated him like a servant. Michael due to his respect and admiration for his master patiently obeyed her orders for the duration of two years. For Michael, Sir Humphrey was more than a demigod, a mine of inexhaustible knowledge. When Sir Humphrey isolated Iodine from a mysterious substance given to him by Monsieur Ampere on the tour Michael was also a party to it. This two year tour was a University seminar for Michael. He met the famous French scientists ranging from Signor Alessandro Volta in Paris to Monsieur Ampere in Milan who frankly disclosed almost everything they knew. Faraday absorbed every crucial fact that was discussed and came home determined to bind the rest of his life to science. 1816 Age 25Yrs. On their return Davy promoted Faraday as a permanent employee of the Royal Institute on a salary of 30 shillings a week. He did not fail to send a part of it to his mother for the education of his sister. It was a great relief for him to have escaped from the clutches of Lady Humphrey. 1820 Age 29Yrs. When Sir Humphrey went to France again Michael tactfully avoided it and spent time with his first love Chemistry. It was not in vain as he discovered some compounds of chlorine and carbon. When Danish Professor Oersted discovered that a magnetic needle can be disturbed by a current carrying wire nearby, his enthusiasm in electro magnetism got ignited. 1821 Age 30Yrs. Faraday married Sarah Barnard, a family friend they used to meet in church. Davy making sure not to lose him got him appointed as the Acting Superintend of the Royal Institution and grant permission for the couple to live there. Faraday made his first important discovery which drives all electrical spinning, rotating and turning in appliances and machinery. He discovered that a current carrying wire can revolve around the pole of a magnet. (Yet it took more than two decades from this day to develop the electric motor) Then for a few years he stopped research and 1823 Age 32Yrs. He was able to liquefy a gas for the first time in the history of science; the gas was Chlorine. Fig.2 A demonstrating using this can summarise what he discovered. 1824 Age 33Yrs. When he was to be elected to be a member of the Royal Society, then the president of the society, Sir Humphrey Davy, vehemently opposed it. Either he was jealous of Faraday or he did not want one of his subordinates to be on par with him. Despite of his protest Faraday got elected as a fellow of the Royal Society. Any this event did not reduce the admiration and respect Faraday had for Sir Humphrey Davy. 1825 Age 35Yrs. He became the Director of the RI Laboratories. He isolated the organic compound Benzene. 1829 Age 38Yrs. It was customary to conduct public lectures during the Christmas vacation by the leading scientists. In 1825 they started lectures aimed at a juvenile audience. When Michael Faraday started lectures they became very popular. He devoted much time and effort in preparing for these. “Chemical history of the candle” was one series of 6 lectures, which was available in the form of a book. It deals with the Chemistry and Physics of the Flame.  1830 Age 39Yrs. His popularity reached a peak, commercial companies depended on him for expert advice. This quickly pushed him from the poor to the richer class. He made close upon £ 5,000./ year. He stopped working for the Royal Society in London and would gave up professional practice completely. He wanted to devote himself entirely for scientific research. According to some historians this move retarded the development of the electrical industry. From that day onwards his income decelerated. Fig.3 They still conduct lectures mainly for children in his name. 1831 Age 40 Yrs Another outstanding discovery was what he demonstrated at a Royal Institution lecture in August. He showed that a change in one electrical circuit can produce a current in a nearby circuit if both coils are wrapped around an iron core. This is thee basis for many electrical appliances including transformers. (One year later Joseph Henry also discovered this independently) This phenomenon is known as Electro magnetic induction and it paved the way for Electro magnetic theory of James Clerk Maxwell and the Special theory of Albert Einstein. 1832 Age 41Yrs. He received a honorary Doctorate from The University of Oxford. 1833 Age 42Yrs. He became Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution. Faraday made important discoveries in electrochemistry. 1834 Age 43Yrs. He changed his life style and stopped dining out and meeting people. 1836 Age 45Yrs. He was made a Member of the Senate of the University of London; a Crown appointment. 1838 Age 47Yrs. Was elected a foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences The only people he ever met outside the science community were from the audience that attended his lectures. His lectures became popular day after day. It was a very queer situation,”Just as popularity ascended, his income descended”. Sarah in spite of his frugal ways found it difficult to make the two ends meet. They had to depend on the salary of £ 100. a year. When the plight of this great man was discreetly pointed out to The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, he said, “ I am sure no man living has a better claim for consideration from the state.” Unfortunately he was defeated at the election that followed. Lord Melbourne that came to power refused the pension outright. Faraday’s followers who refused to accept the verdict forwarded the case to King William IV. It is said that he almost in tears, overruled the former decision and granted a £300/year pension. 1839 Age 48Yrs. He had been working so hard that he suffered from a severe nervous breakdown. 1841 Age 50Yrs. When he was recovering Sarah took him to Switzerland for convalescence. 1844 Age 53Yrs Became one of eight foreign Members elected to the French Academy of Sciences 1845 Age 54Yrs. Once again he commenced research and made a discovery that no normal scientist could have achieved. He was showed that a strong magnetic field could rotate the plane of polarisation in light, and that the angle of rotation was proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. He also showed that all matter are affected by magnetism. He accepted to work in an advisory capacity, for a body that controlled Light Hoses in England. He found this work relaxing and enjoyable, and he succeeded in getting one lit by electricity for the first time. 1857 Age 66 Yrs. He declined the offer of the Presidency of the Royal Society. When Humphrey Davy retired Faraday became the head of the Royal Institution laboratory. He declined a knighthood saying, ”I must remain plain Michael Faraday to the last” 1867 Age 76Yrs.
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Curies- .
Curies- A Radiant family. THIRD GENERATION Helen Langevin Joliot Curie. 1927- Helen is an adviser to the French Government. SECOND GENERATION
M  Marie Curie with Irene and Eve.
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