About 2.3 million years ago our ancestors invented their first primitive tool, the split stone, which they used for cutting and scraping. Modern humans first appeared about 200,000 years ago. About 50,000 years ago they (or should that be we?) began to use language, symbols, and more complex tools. As inventions and discoveries added to one another, human civilization, technology, and science advanced and evolved.
The beginnings of science and the scientific method largely came from the ancient Greek world, which encompassed the eastern part of the Mediterranean. The names of the great scientists and philosophers of that time, such as Pythagoras, Archimedes, Aristotle, Eratosthenes and Thales, are still known today, over 2,000 years later.
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. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 resulted in a large number of refugees fleeing to Europe, bringing with them Greek and Roman books that had been archived in Constantinople, unused for centuries. This, and the invention of the printing press in about 1450 accelerated the pace of learning in Renaissance Europe. Unfortunately for science, only a few people thirsted for scientific knowledge and progress, while most intellectuals focused on artistic or liberal arts disciplines. It was only in the 17th century that a rapid scientific revolution finally took place.
Here’s our alphabetical list of the most popular physicists, or contributors to physics, on the Famous Scientists website, ordered by surname.
AlhazenAlhazen c. 965 – c. 1040.
Explained why camera images are upside down; solved ‘Alhazen’s problem’ concerning reflection of light from curved surfaces.
luis alvarezLuis Alvarez 1911 – 1988.
The iridium layer, dinosaur death by meteorite impact, and subatomic particle discoveries.
andre-marie ampereAndré-Marie Ampère 1775 – 1836.
Discovered that wires carrying electric current can attract and repel magnetically; founded electromagnetic theory.
Carl AndersonCarl Anderson 1905 – 1991.
Proved the existence of antimatter with his discovery of the positron; discovered the muon.
archimedesArchimedes c. 287 BC – 212 BC.
Founded the sciences of mechanics and hydrostatics, calculated pi precisely, devised the law of exponents, created new geometrical proofs, invented numerous ingenious mechanical devices and more.