125
The voltaic pile was
constructed from a pile
of metal and brine-soaked
cardboard disksDNA fingerprinting
reveals a broken
pattern which
varies between
individualsFranklin proposed that a kite flown
in a thunderstorm would become
electrically charged, proving that
lightning was electricity(^3) LUIGI GALVANI
Italian scientist Galvani (1737–98) studied
the role of electrical impulses in animal
tissue by experimenting on frogs. Although
his theory that the electricity was coming
from the animal tissue was wrong, his
discoveries led to the invention of the
battery by Alessandro Volta.
(^8) COPERNICUS
Polish astronomer Copernicus (1473–1543)
is considered to be the founder of modern
astronomy. His studies of the orbits of
the planets revealed that the Sun is at
the centre of the Solar System. At the
time, the predominant view was that
Earth was the centre of the Universe.
(^4) ALBERT EINSTEIN
Einstein (1879–1955) was born in Germany
but after Hitler came to power, he fled to
the United States. Einstein revolutionized
physics with his studies of relativity, which
show how matter, energy, space, and time
are connected. Einstein was awarded the
Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.
(^9) ALESSANDRO VOLTA
In 1800, research into electric currents
led Italian physicist Volta (1745–1827)
to invent the battery. Volta’s battery,
or “voltaic pile” was the first reliable
means of producing an electric current,
and so made it easier to perform further
experiments with electricity.
(^5) ALEC JEFFREYS
British geneticist Jeffreys (born 1950)
discovered that each individual has
certain distinctive patterns of DNA
and worked out how to make images
of these DNA sequences. He pioneered
DNA fingerprinting, used by forensic
scientists in criminal investigations to
identify people from traces of DNA.
(^10) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
US statesman, writer, and scientist
Franklin (1706–90) conducted research
into electricity. He proved that lightning
is an electrical current and suggested the
use of lightning conductors to protect
buildings from lightning strikes.
Copernicus used an
armillary sphere like this
to demonstrate his theory
that the Sun is at the
centre of the Solar System
In 1610, Galileo improved the
newly invented telescope
and used it to discover
Jupiter’s moons, Io, Europa,
Ganymede, and Callisto
4 5
8
9
10
124_125_Scientists.indd 125 03/01/19 12:10 PM