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Questions and Answers
Which scientist developed the atomic model that is often compared to a miniature solar system, with electrons orbiting a tiny nucleus?
Which scientist developed the atomic model that is often compared to a miniature solar system, with electrons orbiting a tiny nucleus?
Ernest Rutherford
What does the term 'quantum' refer to in physics?
What does the term 'quantum' refer to in physics?
The "neuron doctrine" states that the units of the nervous system are continuous webs, not discrete cells.
The "neuron doctrine" states that the units of the nervous system are continuous webs, not discrete cells.
False
Which of the following is NOT a key element of Albert Einstein's contributions to modern physics?
Which of the following is NOT a key element of Albert Einstein's contributions to modern physics?
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What is the name of the 'fifth' state of matter that was predicted by Albert Einstein in 1924?
What is the name of the 'fifth' state of matter that was predicted by Albert Einstein in 1924?
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What term is used to describe the process by which the nuclei of uranium atoms are broken apart, releasing an enormous amount of energy?
What term is used to describe the process by which the nuclei of uranium atoms are broken apart, releasing an enormous amount of energy?
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Who is credited with the discovery of the enzyme telomerase, which is believed to play an important role in cell life span?
Who is credited with the discovery of the enzyme telomerase, which is believed to play an important role in cell life span?
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Which scientist is known for pioneering research into stem cells?
Which scientist is known for pioneering research into stem cells?
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Who discovered that the speed of light is constant, regardless of how fast an observer is moving relative to the light's source?
Who discovered that the speed of light is constant, regardless of how fast an observer is moving relative to the light's source?
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Who is credited with the creation of the World Wide Web?
Who is credited with the creation of the World Wide Web?
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Which scientist's research into subatomic decay earned them a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957?
Which scientist's research into subatomic decay earned them a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957?
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What was the name of the 6-month program that sent Jocelyn Burnell to Gombe National Park in Tanzania, to study the behaviour of chimpanzees?
What was the name of the 6-month program that sent Jocelyn Burnell to Gombe National Park in Tanzania, to study the behaviour of chimpanzees?
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What is the name of the chemical substance that is found inside all living things, and which encodes genetic information?
What is the name of the chemical substance that is found inside all living things, and which encodes genetic information?
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Who was the first female ophthalmologist to set up and direct a residency training program in the US?
Who was the first female ophthalmologist to set up and direct a residency training program in the US?
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Who was the first woman to fly in space?
Who was the first woman to fly in space?
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What is the name of the theory, which states that as the Universe expands, its average density is kept constant, as new matter is continuously created?
What is the name of the theory, which states that as the Universe expands, its average density is kept constant, as new matter is continuously created?
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What is the name of the protein that was the first to be sequenced, and which later helped to enable the development of synthetic insulin for treating diabetes?
What is the name of the protein that was the first to be sequenced, and which later helped to enable the development of synthetic insulin for treating diabetes?
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Which of the following individuals was NOT a part of the team that built the famous 3D model of DNA, which was published in 1953?
Which of the following individuals was NOT a part of the team that built the famous 3D model of DNA, which was published in 1953?
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Which scientist, who worked at the Ontario Cancer Institute, was the first to coin the phrase 'big picture thinker' to describe Ernest McCulloch?
Which scientist, who worked at the Ontario Cancer Institute, was the first to coin the phrase 'big picture thinker' to describe Ernest McCulloch?
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A "pulsar" is a rapidly spinning, strongly magnetized neutron star, that emits radiation in short, regular bursts.
A "pulsar" is a rapidly spinning, strongly magnetized neutron star, that emits radiation in short, regular bursts.
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What is the name of the hypothetical fundamental unit, proposed by Murray Gell-Mann in 1964, which is often described as a 'building block' of hadrons?
What is the name of the hypothetical fundamental unit, proposed by Murray Gell-Mann in 1964, which is often described as a 'building block' of hadrons?
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What is the name of the research organization, which is often described as the home of the Large Hadron Collider, and where Tim Berners-Lee worked as a consultant in 1980?
What is the name of the research organization, which is often described as the home of the Large Hadron Collider, and where Tim Berners-Lee worked as a consultant in 1980?
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What is the name of the medicine that was successfully used to treat malaria, and discovered by Tu Youyou in 1971?
What is the name of the medicine that was successfully used to treat malaria, and discovered by Tu Youyou in 1971?
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Which of the following scientists was awarded the Nobel Prize for groundbreaking work on the disintegration of the elements?
Which of the following scientists was awarded the Nobel Prize for groundbreaking work on the disintegration of the elements?
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The "standard model" is a framework used to classify subatomic particles that was proposed by Murray Gell-Mann in 1964.
The "standard model" is a framework used to classify subatomic particles that was proposed by Murray Gell-Mann in 1964.
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Which scientist is credited with coining the term "fractal geometry"?
Which scientist is credited with coining the term "fractal geometry"?
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Which scientist is credited with co-founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in 1976?
Which scientist is credited with co-founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in 1976?
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Which scientist famously used a glass of iced water and a piece of rubber to demonstrate how the Challenger space shuttle disaster occurred in 1986?
Which scientist famously used a glass of iced water and a piece of rubber to demonstrate how the Challenger space shuttle disaster occurred in 1986?
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Study Notes
Scientists Who Changed History
- The book focuses on scientists who significantly impacted historical understanding and technological advancement between 1895-1925.
Milestones in Neuroscience
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Santiago Ramón y Cajal's research using microscopes revealed the nervous system's independent cellular structure, disproving existing theories.
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Cajal's work greatly improved existing tissue-staining techniques, leading to more detailed visualizations and understanding of the nervous system.
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Cajal published a seminal work in 1899 on the nervous system, detailing its structure and function. This was a major contribution to neuroscience.
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In 1906, Cajal, along with Camillo Golgi, jointly received the Nobel Prize for their contributions to neuroscience.
Quantum Theory
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Max Planck's quantum theory challenged classical physics by demonstrating that energy is not continuously emitted, but in discrete packets (“quanta”).
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Planck's constant (h) is a fundamental physical constant.
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Planck’s theory revolutionized the understanding of subatomic events and the nature of light.
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This discovery altered the way scientists viewed the subatomic world.
Pioneers in Sex Determination
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Nettie Stevens's research in the early 20th century, focused on how sex is determined by chromosomes in mealworms and contributed enormously to the field of genetics.
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This pioneering discovery provided the first evidence linking a physical characteristic (sex) with a specific chromosome.
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Stevens research was crucial to understanding how sexual characteristics are encoded in genes.
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Her work, however, was not widely acknowledged during her lifetime.
Contributions to Agricultural Science
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George Washington Carver's innovative scientific methods improved soil conditions and crop yields.
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Carver identified and developed commercially viable products from peanuts and sweet potatoes, diversifying the Southern US’ economy.
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He significantly impacted farming practices through research and practical demonstration.
Chromosomal Hereditary
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Thomas Hunt Morgan's work advanced our understanding of heredity.
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It confirmed that chromosomes carry genetic information that's passed down between generations.
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His extensive fruit fly breeding experiments provided convincing evidence.
Quantum Theory, Radioactive Elements
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Marie Curie's research into radioactivity led to the discovery of two new radioactive elements: polonium and radium.
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Her work, along with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel's, led to the development of radiotherapy.
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Curie received Nobel Prizes in Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).
Structure of the Atom
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Ernest Rutherford demonstrated that atoms are mostly empty space, containing a nucleus with positively charged particles and electrons orbiting around it.
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Rutherford described alpha and beta radiation, expanding our knowledge of atomic structure and radioactive disintegration.
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His experiments provided the basis for the nuclear model of the atom.
The Quantum Revolution
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Niels Bohr's work built on Rutherford's findings, proposing that electrons orbit the nucleus at specified energy levels (orbitals).
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Bohr's model explained the behaviour of atoms, contributing substantially to our understanding of quantum theory.
Development of the Atomic Theory
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Lise Meitner’s theory and calculation of nuclear fission was vital in the development of atomic theory.
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She successfully predicted the scientific processes of atom splitting, and nuclear fission.
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Meitner was tragically excluded from the 1944 Nobel Prize awarded to her colleagues in recognition of the scientific breakthrough.
The Theory of Relativity
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Albert Einstein's theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of time, space, and gravity by establishing that gravity results from the curving of space-time.
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He showed that the speed of light is a universal constant, that mass and energy are interchangeable, and that past and present are not absolute.
Continental Drift
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Alfred Wegener's theory proposed that continents had once been joined and have drifted apart over geological time.
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His theory, combined with substantial evidence like fossil finds, marked a significant moment in geologic science.
Molecular Biology
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Francis Crick's and James Watson's discovery of DNA's double helix structure revolutionized molecular biology.
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It provided crucial knowledge and a new understanding of how genetic information is transferred.
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Crucially, their work opened up a host of new research opportunities in medicine, biotechnology, and the life sciences.
Pioneers in Biology
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Rosalind Franklin’s imaging technique and research on DNA and viruses made significant breakthroughs.
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Her instrumental X-ray diffraction photographs of DNA were crucial to Crick and Watson's discovery of the DNA double helix structure.
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Tragically, Franklin missed the Nobel Prize.
The Physics of the Atom
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Scientists like Murray Gell-Mann and Richard Feynman significantly advanced our understanding of fundamental particles.
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Feynman's diagrams and Gell-Mann’s quark theory revolutionized how these particles and their interactions are understood.
Ocean Currents/Climate
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Henry Stommel's work explained ocean currents like the Gulf Stream from a combination of fluid dynamics and the Earth's curvature.
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Using fluid dynamics, he illustrated how the Earth's rotation and the distribution of heat influence the flow of large-scale ocean currents.
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Stommel’s model of the great ocean conveyor gave a more complete sense of how our oceans work.
Particle Physics
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Chen-Ning Yang's work challenged the existing "parity" concept in particle physics.
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He showed that the principle of conservation of parity was not always true. His work, with colleague Tsung-Dao Lee, significantly advanced our understanding of quantum interactions.
Fractal Geometry
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Benoit Mandelbrot developed the concept of fractal geometry, providing a fresh perspective on patterns that appear random or chaotic.
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This approach has widespread applications in diverse fields from finance to medicine, and helps in understanding complexity.
The Study of Stem cells
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Ernest McCulloch and James Till's discoveries about stem cells transformed cancer and regenerative medicine. They showed using animal models how blood cells were produced from the stem cells in the bone marrow.
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Their research helped in the development of successful bone marrow transplants.
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Their work highlighted the immense potential of stem cell research for treating human diseases like leukemia.
Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology
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Tu Youyou's research into traditional Chinese medicine contributed enormously to medical science.
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Her breakthrough discovery of artemisinin, a crucial antimalarial drug, transformed the field and earned her a Nobel Prize.
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She successfully extracted and refined artemisinin from Chinese herbal medicines, showing great success in the effective treatment of malaria.
Physics
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Stephen Hawking's work, particularly on black holes, greatly advanced our understanding of the Universe.
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Using mathematical tools, he explored the nature of space-time, gravity, black holes, and the very beginning of the cosmos. His work has revolutionized astronomy and astrophysics.
Cosmology
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Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web (WWW). The Web is revolutionary, as it makes information globally accessible.
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His innovative work in computer science and information architecture facilitated faster and more sophisticated communication among internet users.
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Berners-Lee created the foundation technologies that today power communication between millions.
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Description
Explore the contributions of groundbreaking scientists who shaped modern understanding and technology between 1895 and 1925. This quiz delves into the transformative work of pioneers like Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Max Planck, highlighting their key discoveries in neuroscience and quantum theory.
