Science History
Looking back through history, people have always wanted to explain how the world works, but they haven't always used scientific theories. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle didn't carry out experiments, but he did try to describe and explain the natural world. After alchemy in the Dark Ages, a more reason-based approach to empirical knowledge was taken by natural philosophers such as Boyle, Newton and Galileo. William Whewell coined the word 'scientist' relatively recently in 1833.
We might finally know how the pyramids were built
Breakthrough studies are beginning to paint a spectacular picture.
International Women's Day | 22 pioneering women in science you really should know about
We’ve all heard of the likes of Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin and Marie Curie, but there are many more famous women in STEM that deserve your attention.
Top 18 fastest cars in the world: land speed record breakers
Here are the drivers and cars that have broken the world land speed record throughout history.
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Why were chainsaws invented?
The original chainsaw was not used by lumberjacks, but doctors.
Who discovered electricity? Probably not who you're thinking
We examine the bright sparks who had a major hand in the discovery.
Tutankhamun’s tomb: How scientists solved the mystery of its hidden rooms
A century ago, Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered. But even today, controversy still rages over whether it contains undiscovered chambers. Here, an Egyptologist puts the rumours to bed… or rather, firmly into their sarcophagus.
Daylight savings: Why do the clocks change?
We all know the saying ‘spring forward, fall back’, but why – and when – do we change the clocks in the UK? And is it good for us in modern society?
Scientists that found Shackleton’s lost ship are developing a ‘Google Maps for the Antarctic’
Navigating the polar regions is almost as complicated now as it was when Ernest Shackleton's Endurance sank in 1915. But the technology used to find the shipwreck could help create "a kind of Google Maps for the Arctic and Antarctic".
In Pictures: Shackleton’s ship Endurance found over a century after it sank
Incredible discovery made by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and National Geographic.
Profile | Michael Collins: Apollo 11 command module pilot
A modest and thoughtful man, he once said that “...the main qualification for flying to the Moon was to have been born at the right time, 1930, give or take a year or two.”
From Dolly to endangered species: A history of cloning
The first clone was long before Dolly the sheep was born in 1996.
Mystery of the ‘world’s first computer’ may have been solved
New study reveals the complete structure of the front panel of the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000-year-old mechanical device used by the ancient Greeks to predict astronomical events.
Podcast | The ordinary women in science history
Science historians Anna Reser and Leila McNeill tell us about the women who engaged in science throughout history but don’t always get remembered.
Beyond Marie Curie: The women in science history we don't talk about
Science historians Leila McNeill and Anna Reser tell us about the hidden women who contributed to our understanding of the world.
A history of robots, from ancient Greece to 19th Century London
In this extract from We, Robots, we journey into the past, experience the present, and ponder the future of science fiction, and of artificial intelligence.
The life-changing and long-lasting influence of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin had a fascinating and eccentric life, one that continues to inspire astronomers today.
Who really found the continent of Antarctica?
In this extract from Antarctic Atlas, cartographer Peter Fretwell reveals the four contenders for the fame of finding Antarctica.
Pandemics past | What we can learn from threats to the human race
Humans of today can learn a lot from the infectious diseases that plagued our ancestors.
Incredibly preserved bodies of two men discovered in Pompeii
A master and his slave discovered almost 2000 years after their deaths
What is the Rosetta Stone?
The discovery in 1822 of a ‘new’ stone slab that featured both hieroglyphic and Greek inscriptions was key to confirming Champollion’s revolutionary ‘mixed script’ theory.
Who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs?
The important scientists and thinkers who worked out the meaning and structure of the Ancient Egyptians' hieroglyphic language.
How we deciphered Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
The ancient Egyptians’ language had archaeologists baffled until the hieroglyphs were carefully deciphered using the Rosetta Stone.
Rosetta Stone | A history of translating ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
A story spanning thousands of years, from forgotten ancient knowledge to modern understanding.
Subhadra Das | What part has science played in racism?
Historian and museum curator Subhadra Das explains how science history played a part in fuelling the racism seen in society today.