January 31

Theodore William Richards was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1868. He studied under Wilhelm Ostwald in Leipzig before returning to the United States to join the faculty at Johns Hopkins University. Richards became renowned for his meticulous methods in determining atomic weights, improving accuracy in chemical analysis. In 1914 he became the first American recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for these contributions. Throughout his career, he published over 100 papers and trained numerous future chemists. Richards also served as president of the American Chemical Society and held leadership roles in several scientific organizations. His work laid the foundation for modern analytical chemistry and helped standardize atomic weight measurements. He continued research and teaching until his death in 1928.

Irving Langmuir was born in 1881 in Brooklyn, New York. He made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of surface phenomena and adsorption, leading to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1932. While working at General Electric, Langmuir invented the gas-filled incandescent lamp and helped develop high-vacuum techniques. He introduced the concept of electron temperature and used Langmuir probes to study plasma. His interdisciplinary approach bridged chemistry, physics, and engineering, impacting both academic research and industrial applications. Langmuir's work laid foundations for surface science and modern electronics.

Sofya Yanovskaya was born in 1896 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She specialized in the study of mathematical logic and the philosophical foundations of mathematics. Yanovskaya played a key role in translating and publishing works of Western logicians in the Soviet Union. As a professor at Moscow State University, she mentored generations of mathematicians and historians. Her scholarship provided deep insights into the development of algebra and set theory. Yanovskaya's work bridged historical research with mathematical rigor, earning her recognition in both academic fields.

Alva Myrdal was born on January 31, 1902, in Uppsala, Sweden. She began her career as a sociologist, conducting pioneering research on housing, family, and social policy. In the 1940s, she held key positions in the Swedish government, championing reforms in childcare and public health. As chair of the UN Disarmament Commission, she became an international advocate for nuclear non-proliferation. In 1982, she shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Alfonso García Robles for her tireless efforts toward global disarmament. Myrdal also served as Sweden's ambassador to India and Mexico, promoting social justice and gender equality. Her policies helped shape Sweden's welfare state model and influenced international peace initiatives. She passed away in 1986, leaving a profound legacy in social policy and diplomacy.

Julian Steward was born on January 31, 1902, in Washington, D.C., and earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He developed the concept of cultural ecology, studying how human societies adapt to different environmental conditions. Steward conducted extensive fieldwork among Native American groups in the Great Basin, documenting their subsistence techniques and social structures. He emphasized a scientific methodology in anthropology, integrating ecological variables into cultural analysis. As a professor at the University of Michigan and later at Columbia, he trained a generation of influential anthropologists. His seminal work, Theory of Culture Change (1955), remains a cornerstone of anthropological theory. Steward's scholarship laid the groundwork for ecological and comparative studies in the discipline. He died in 1972, remembered as a pioneering thinker in anthropology.

Alan Lomax was born on January 31, 1915, in Austin, Texas, into a family devoted to folk culture. Alongside his father, he traveled across the United States in the 1930s and 1940s, recording blues, gospel, and folk songs from musicians in rural communities. Lomax later expanded his fieldwork internationally, documenting traditional music in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He produced landmark radio programs and published influential books such as The Folk Songs of North America. Lomax developed cantometrics, a method for analyzing singing styles, and lectured at universities worldwide. Despite facing scrutiny during the McCarthy era, he continued his research and advocacy for cultural preservation. His vast archive of recordings has become an invaluable resource for scholars and musicians. Lomax received a Grammy Trustees Award for his contributions and died in 2002, leaving a lasting impact on ethnomusicology.

Born in Akron, Ohio in 1928, Irma Wyman earned degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering. She joined General Electric in the 1950s and became a pioneer in corporate information technology. Wyman was appointed as one of the first female Chief Information Officers at a major corporation, leading early computerization projects and developing resource planning systems. She advocated for women in STEM fields and mentored many young professionals throughout her career. After retiring, she served on multiple boards and continued to promote technology education. Wyman's contributions paved the way for future generations of women in engineering and computing.

Born in Munich in 1929, Rudolf Mössbauer studied physics at the Technical University of Munich. In 1957, he discovered the recoil-free nuclear resonance fluorescence phenomenon now known as the Mössbauer effect. His work provided a powerful tool for probing the atomic and nuclear properties of materials. In recognition of this groundbreaking discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1961. Mössbauer went on to serve as a professor and researcher, advancing techniques in spectroscopy and solid-state physics. His contributions have had a lasting impact in fields ranging from chemistry to materials science. He passed away in 2011, leaving a significant scientific legacy.

Morton Mower was a pioneering American cardiologist and inventor known for co-developing the first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). In the late 1960s, he collaborated on the design of a device capable of delivering therapeutic shocks to correct life-threatening arrhythmias. His work transformed cardiac care by providing a permanent implant solution that drastically improved survival rates. Mower held several patents in cardiology and authored numerous scientific papers on heart rhythm disorders. His contributions have saved countless lives and established the ICD as a cornerstone of modern cardiac treatment.

Rynn Berry (January 31, 1945 – 2014) was an American historian, researcher, and prolific author in vegetarian and vegan studies. He wrote and edited numerous books, including The Vegan Sources and Food for a Future, exploring ethical eating. Berry’s scholarship traced the roots of vegetarianism across cultures and religions, highlighting its social impact. An active lecturer and advocate, he worked to raise public awareness about animal rights and sustainable food systems. His meticulous research earned him recognition as a leading voice in the vegan movement’s early literature. Berry’s legacy lives on through his influential writings and educational outreach.

Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond (born January 31, 1945) is an eminent British lawyer and academic. She was the first woman to serve as President of the UK Supreme Court from 2017 to 2020. Educated at Cambridge, she built a distinguished career in family and constitutional law and served as a law professor. Appointed to the Law Lords in 2004, she became a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and championed human rights. Hale’s judgments are noted for clarity and her advocacy for equality and social justice. Beyond the bench, she has published influential legal scholarship and mentored future generations of lawyers.