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276 BCE
Eratosthenes Born
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Period: 276 BCE to 194 BCE
Eratosthenes Lifetime
In his lifetime, he used trigonometry to accurately measure the circumference of the Earth. He also calculated the tilt of the Earth's axis. -
236 BCE
Erastathones Becomes Chief Librarian of Library of Alexandria
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194 BCE
Erastathones Dies
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85
Ptolemy is Born
Ptolemy is born in Alexandria, Egypt -
165
Ptolemy Dies
In his lifetime, Ptolemy developed the geocentric theory through the usage of evidence such as epicycles and observations made from the human eye. -
Feb 19, 1473
Copernicus is Born
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1492
Copernicus Attends Krakow University
During this time, Copernicus studies math, Greek, and Islamic astronomy, expenses being paid for by his wealthy uncle. At Krakow, Copernicus begins to question the validity of Aristotle and Ptolemy's view of the geocentric Universe. He became increasingly aware of the contradictions between the planets being concentric spheres yet having eccentric orbits. -
1501
Copernicus Attends Padau University
While attending Padau University, Copernicus develops some evidence for a new system of cosmology that differs from the geocentric theory, -
1503
Copernicus Continues to Gather Evidence
From 1503 to 1510, Copernicus works for his uncle, which gave him lots of free time to continue to make observations on the cosmos. This allowed him to further develop his theory on the layout of the universe. -
1510
Copernicus Measures the Universe
When working as canon of a church, Copernicus uses the tower to make measurements on the stars. To make measurements, he would measure the angles, altitudes, and distances of stars and planets. This further deviated his theory of the universe from the geocentric theory. -
1514
Copernicus Shares his Heliocentric Theory
By 1514, Copernicus had written a short report (called the Little Commentary) on his heliocentric theory of the universe, sharing this viewpoint with some of his scientific peers. -
1532
Copernicus Completes his Scientific Findings
After 16 arduous years of measurements, Copernicus completes his detailed astronomical manuscript on his heliocentric theory. This further demonstrates his loyalty to the theory and deviance from the norms of the past. -
1541
Copernicus Publishes His Heliocentric Theory
After many years, Copernicus publishes his book "De Revolutionibus Orbium Celestium," which fully explained his measurements and reasons for believing in the heliocentric theory. With this, his thoughts could be shared with the world, influencing the geocentric theory to be further questioned and eventually disproved. -
May 24, 1543
Copernicus Dies
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Feb 15, 1564
Galileo is Born
He is born in Pisa, Italy -
Galileo Finds Interest in Astronomy
Through the observance of tides, Galileo realizes that they do not line up with the geocentric theory, leading him to begin to support the heliocentric theory. -
Galileo Reads About the Heliocentric Theory
Galileo reads a book from Johannes Kepler explaining the heliocentric theory, introducing Galileo to the theory. -
Galileo Sees a Supernova
By seeing a supernova, Galileo knows that the universe changes, unlike what Aristotle believed. -
Galileo Seeds Jupiters Moons
By observing moons orbit around Jupiter, Galileo has evidence proving that not everything revolves around the Earth like the geocentric theory stated. -
Galileo Writes The Starry Messenger
This book explains the evidence Galileo gathered for the heliocentric theory. -
Galileo's Book
His book follows the comparison between heliocentric and geocentric view, but it was not recieved well by the public. -
Galileo Dies
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Issac Newton is Born
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Newton Attends Elementary School
While in elementary school, Newton spends his time making numerous scientific contraptions instead of socializing with other kids. This demonstrates his passion for science from an extremely young age. -
Newton Attends Cambridge University
In pursuit of a mathematics degree, Newton attends Cambridge University, where his deepened understanding of math allows him to link science and math together. -
Newton Makes Initial Discoveries
Newton discovers and proves that white light is composed of all colors. He also begins to discover the law of universal gravitation. -
Newton Publishes his Revolutionary Book, Gathers Further Evidence for Heliocentric Theory
Newton publishes the "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosphy," which covered the three laws of motion, expanded on Kepler's Laws of Motion, and stated the Law of Universal Gravitation. During this time, Newton observed planetary motion through a telescope of his own design, furthering his testimonies for the heliocentric theory. -
Newton Dies
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Charles Darwin is Born
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Charles Darwin Leaves on the SS Beagle
On this voyage, Darwin studies fossils, finches, and ocean levels in order to gather evidence that he then used in his theory of evolution. -
Mendeleev is Born
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Darwin Returns Home from the Beagle
After his voyage, Darwin returns home and analyzes his data in order to come up with his theory of natural selection and the theory of evolution. -
Darwin Publishes His Book
Charles Darwin publishes his book "On the Origin of Species," sharing his theories with the world. Unfortunately, his ideas were met with a lot of disdain since they challenged religious ideals. -
Mendeleev Attends one of the First International Chemistry Conferences
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Mendeleev Publishes Organic Chemistry book
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Marie Curie is Born
Marie Curie is born in Warsaw, Poland -
Mendeleev Devises the First Periodic Table
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Alfred Wegner Born
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Darwin Dies
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Curie Graduates from Sorbonne
Curie is the first ever woman to graduate with a degree in physics at Sorbonne. -
Curie Graduates Highschool
At age 15, Curie graduates highschool with a love of science since her father had surrounded her with scientific instruments from a young age. -
Marie Marries Pierre Curie
Marie marries Pierre Curie, who was also a scientist, furthering her lifelong passion for science. -
Curie Discovers Radium
After years of research and speculations, Curie discovers the element radium, and along with it the concept of radioactivity. -
Curie Clearly Sees Radium
After working strenuously to separate radium from other substances, Marie succeeds and is able to see radioactivity clearly for the first time, allowing her to develop a theory on radioactivity. This theory allowed scientists to further understand the structure of an atom, in turn allowing them to understand the structure of matter, in turn allowing them to evaluate the structure of the universe. Essentially, Curie's beliefs shaped many of the theories of the universe today. -
Curie Gets Doctors Degree
Curie gets a doctors degree in physics and receives a Nobel Prize for her discovery of radioactivity. -
Wegner Recieves a PhD in Astronomy
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Harry Hess Born
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Curie Teaches at Sorbonne
Curie becomes the first ever female professor in Sorbonne's history. -
Mendeleev Dies
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Wegner Notices South America Border Fits with Africa
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Wegner Publishes His Book About Pangea
By noticing country borders fit together, fossils from differernt areas matched, and came up with preliminary plate tectonics. -
Francis Crick Born
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Rosalind Franklin is Born
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James Watson Born
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Wegner Dies
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Curie Dies
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Hess Discovers Ocean Floor is Covered in Volcanoes
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Hess Discovers Ocean Floor is Covered in Volcanoes
By discovering the volcanic nature of the ocean floor, it provided evidence that the tectonic plates were in motion. -
Rosalind Begins Studying DNA at King's College
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Watson Works on His PhD
Watson works to get his degree in protein crystallography. -
Franklin Takes X-Ray Images
Here, Franklin takes X-ray crystallography images of DNA, allowing for the structure of DNA to finally be understood. -
Watson and Crick Release their DNA Model
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Rosalind Franklin Dies
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Hess Publishes Theory of Ocean Spreading
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Watson and Crick Win the Nobel Prize
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Hess Dies
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Francis Crick Dies