June 06

Born Johannes Müller in 1436 in Königsberg, he adopted the name Regiomontanus. Often called the father of European trigonometry, he produced the first systematic treatments of trigonometric functions. His astronomical tables and ephemerides advanced navigational accuracy for early explorers. Appointed bishop of Regensburg, he balanced his ecclesiastical duties with scientific research. Influenced Copernicus and later astronomers through works like 'Epitomae', a key astronomical textbook. Died in 1476, his mathematical methods and observational techniques shaped the future of science.

Born in Arezzo, Italy, in 1519, Cesalpino studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Padua. He authored 'De Plantis Libri XVI', an influential botanical treatise that prefigured modern taxonomy. As court physician in Florence, he combined empirical observation with Aristotelian thought to advance anatomy and botany. His interdisciplinary approach influenced later scientists like Linnaeus and Galileo. Died in 1603, Cesalpino's works remained reference points in natural history and medical science.

Born on June 6, 1810, in the Harz region of Germany, Schneidewin pursued studies in classical philology. He produced authoritative editions of Latin playwrights such as Plautus and Terence. His research on metrics and manuscript traditions advanced the field of textual criticism. He held professorships at the universities of Bonn and Berlin. Schneidewin mentored a generation of German classicists through rigorous scholarship. Died in 1856, his meticulous editions remain valuable resources for classical studies.

Karl Ferdinand Braun was born in 1850 in Germany and later became an American citizen. He served as a professor of physics and made groundbreaking contributions to wireless telegraphy. In 1897, he invented the cathode-ray tube, known as the Braun tube, which became central to television and oscilloscope technology. For these achievements, he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Guglielmo Marconi. Braun's work laid the technological foundation for modern electronics and broadcasting. His research on oscillators and antennas advanced radio communication. He passed away in 1918, leaving a profound legacy in physics.

Aleksandr Mikhailovich Lyapunov was born in 1857 in Russia. He made seminal contributions to the study of differential equations and dynamical systems. His 1892 work on the stability of motion introduced what is now known as Lyapunov stability theory. Lyapunov also advanced potential theory and probability, influencing future generations of mathematicians and physicists. He served as a professor at the University of St. Petersburg and authored foundational texts in mathematics. His theories remain fundamental in control theory and engineering. Lyapunov died in 1918, leaving a profound impact on applied mathematics.

Born in what is now Ukraine, Manfred Sakel studied medicine in Vienna before immigrating to the United States. He developed insulin shock therapy in the 1930s, a groundbreaking treatment for schizophrenia that gained widespread use in psychiatric hospitals. Sakel's methods marked a turning point in the approach to mental illness, emphasizing somatic therapies. Despite later controversy and replacement by antipsychotic medications, his work influenced the field of psychiatry for decades. He continued his medical practice and research until his death in 1957.

Max August Zorn studied at the University of Göttingen before fleeing Nazi Germany and settling in the United States. In 1935, he published Zorn’s Lemma, an important principle in set theory equivalent to the Axiom of Choice. He joined Indiana University’s faculty, where he made contributions to algebra and lattice theory. Zorn's work provided foundational tools used across mathematics, from topology to functional analysis. He continued his research and teaching career until his death in 1993, leaving a profound legacy in modern mathematics.

Edwin G. Krebs (1918–2009) was an American biochemist and professor recognized for pioneering research on how cells use phosphorylation to regulate enzyme activity. In 1992, he and Edmond H. Fischer received the Nobel Prize for elucidating the mechanism of reversible protein phosphorylation, a fundamental process in cell signaling. Krebs earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington and conducted research at the University of California, San Diego. His work laid the foundation for understanding many cellular functions and disease processes, including cancer and diabetes. Throughout his career, he published extensively and mentored a generation of molecular biologists.

David Randolph Scott was born on June 6, 1932 in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1954. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from MIT. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1966, he flew on the Gemini 8 and Gemini 10 missions. He served as commander of the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. During Apollo 15 he conducted the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle on the moon. He logged over 295 hours in space and made three moonwalks. After retiring from NASA he served in leadership roles in the aerospace industry.

Heinrich Rohrer was born on June 6, 1933 in Buchs, Switzerland. He studied physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. In collaboration with Gerd Binnig he invented the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in 1981. Their invention allowed scientists to image surfaces at the atomic level for the first time. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986 for this groundbreaking work. Rohrer held professorships at several universities and mentored numerous students. He was celebrated for his contributions to nanotechnology and surface science. He passed away in 2013, leaving a lasting impact on experimental physics.

Richard Smalley pioneered the field of nanoscience with his discovery of fullerenes (buckyballs). He conducted groundbreaking research at Rice University, advancing nanotechnology. His work earned him the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Robert Curl and Harold Kroto. Smalley advocated for science education and renewable energy research in later years. He authored books and articles to raise public awareness about science and climate change. His passionate presentations inspired a new generation of scientists before his passing in 2005.

Phillip Sharp made a landmark discovery of gene splicing mechanisms in 1977. His work revealed how eukaryotic genes generate multiple proteins from a single gene template. This breakthrough earned him the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Richard Roberts. Sharp co-founded the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT to foster neuroscience research. He has served as an influential educator and administrator, shaping modern molecular biology. His research continues to impact medical therapeutics and genetic engineering.