Although scientific discovery requires logic and reason, science history is littered with myths and urban legends. Usually, credit for a discovery is given to the scientist with the most engaging story. The scientific discoveries and theories involved are all very true, even if these stories of heroic (and fabulously lucky) scientists are overblown.
Galileo Threw Items From the Piazzale Michelangelo
Galileo Galilei is said to have ascended to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 1589 and dropped two things of varying weight. The story has a couple of flaws, the first of which being that Galileo never claimed to have conducted such an experiment. Galileo's dissertation on motion includes a thought experiment in which two objects are dropped from a tower, although he gave no description of doing so himself.
Charles Darwin Was Motivated to Establish His Evolutionary Theory by Galapagos Finches
Naturalist Charles Darwin boarded the HMS Beagle and saw the Galapagos Islands' amazing flora and fauna. He was particularly interested in the numerous species of finches that were well adapted to their settings while he was there. His quest to understand why these closely related finches were all such excellent tools led him to formulate the theories contained in The Origin of Species.
Finches, on the other hand, played little to no part in Darwin's early concept of macroevolution. Yes, he photographed finches and their various beaks, but finches aren't mentioned in On the Origin of Species.
Finches, on the other hand, played little to no part in Darwin's early concept of macroevolution. Yes, he photographed finches and their various beaks, but finches aren't mentioned in On the Origin of Species.
Alexander Fleming Realized the Incredible Medical Potential of Penicillin When a Stray Mold Spore Landed on an Exposed Bacterial Culture
When a stray mold spore landed on an exposed bacterial colony, Alexander Fleming understood the immense potential of penicillin. Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish pharmacologist, had a notoriously dirty lab, leaving bacterial cultures to build up in a basin after he was done with them. Mold could and did get into these abandoned cultures, including those of the Penicillium genus, which were being grown in another area of the building for other scientific purposes. Fleming did discover the bacteria-killing mold and named the drug it emitted "penicillin," which would go on to become one of medicine's greatest weapons. However, he wasn't the first to notice its antibacterial qualities.
Einstein's Wife Was Instrumental in the Development of His Theory of Relativity
The story is intriguing: Albert Einstein consulted his bright but modest first wife, Mileva Mari, while constructing his great theory. After all, Mari was a student at the Zurich Polytechnic at the same time as Einstein, enrolling in a diploma program to teach physics and mathematics. After a tumultuous academic career, she finally dropped out of her PhD program after becoming pregnant by Einstein, during which time he created many of his fundamental theories. It's easy to believe that this woman's contributions to physics were overlooked.
While the value of a supportive and diligent spouse cannot be overstated in any scientific or creative endeavor, Mari's contributions to Einstein's work were most likely not scientific in character.
While the value of a supportive and diligent spouse cannot be overstated in any scientific or creative endeavor, Mari's contributions to Einstein's work were most likely not scientific in character.
Ben Franklin Was Seen Flying a Kite
Let's start with a scientific story that's been tough to confirm or disprove: Benjamin Franklin's historic kite flight. Franklin, according to legend, walked out into a thunderstorm in 1752 with a kite linked to a key, which was then attached to a Leyden jar. The electricity moved into the jar when the key was struck by lightning, indicating that lightning is made up of electricity. It's a watershed point in adventurous science's history. And there's a high probability it never happened in the first place.
