Van Leeuwenhoek, who discovered bacteria, is one of the most important figures in the history of medicine, laying the groundwork for today’s understanding of infectious disease.
Known as Mary Beale’s ‘Portrait of a Mathematician,’ could the circa 1680 painting depict Hooke?
Mary Beale
Online sleuthing and deductive reasoning identifies what appears to be the only existent portrait painted of the celebrated scientist during his lifetime.
No contemporary portrait of Robert Hooke seems to have survived. This 2004 oil painting is based on descriptions during his lifetime.
Rita Greer
Born on July 18, 1635, this polymath broke ground in fields ranging from pneumatics, microscopy, mechanics and astronomy to civil engineering and architecture.