Galileo lived in the 16th century, a time of great superstition regarding natural phenomena. By using logic and observation, he made many groundbreaking scientific advances. He invented the modern thermometer, and he developed his own astronomical telescope based solely on the rumor that someone else had invented one. Galileo's observations through the telescope helped disprove many false ideas about the stars held by people of his age.
Galileo did not give up his studies even when authorities challenged and rebuked him. His life and work show the power of scientific principles to dispel mysteries and superstitions.
Louis Pasteur is acclaimed for developing vaccines as well as the germ theory of disease. When he was growing up in the early 19th century, almost no one understood the role of microbes in causing food spoilage and sickness. His discoveries led to the pasteurization of milk and other foods, the adoption of sterile practices in medicine, and the prevention of disease through inoculation. These innovations saved countless lives.
Pasteur stubbornly pressed on with his work in the face of strong resistance and personal tragedy. His achievements show the ability of scientific persistence to bring about great positive change.
The inventor Thomas Edison lay the ground for modern electrical power and communication, perhaps more than any other scientist. His experiments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to many groundbreaking innovations, such as the telegraph, light bulb, phonograph, telephone, motor, generator, motion picture camera, and central power plant.
Fifth graders will love learning that Edison had already started his own newspaper and businesses by age 12 and created his first invention by age 16. Edison's life teaches the valuable lesson that nothing can stand in the way of knowledge and imagination.
In 1903, Marie Curie became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and in 1911 she became one of only a handful of scientists to win it twice. Her investigations in radiation led to important breakthroughs in medicine, including the medical use of X-rays and radioactivity.
Both Curie's scientific and family life are inspiring to scientists of all ages and genders. She achieved many milestones as a female scientist in France, and she collaborated successfully with husband and partner Pierre Curie throughout their marriage. Their daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie, eventually won a Nobel Prize with her own husband.