Scientific and Medical Achievements
Scientific and Medical Achievements
Preview
* Main Idea * New Ideas in Science * Medical Breakthroughs
Main Idea
Advances in science, medicine, and the social sciences led to new theories about the natural world and human mind, an improved quality of life, and longer life spans.
New Ideas in Science
Charles Darwin studied variations in plants, animals in 1800s
Published theories in On the Origin of Species
Developed concept of natural selection.
Creatures well adapted to environment have better chance of surviving, producing offspring.
Over time the species will evolve to improve survival chances.
Indicated humans were descended from other animals.
Many opposed Darwin because theory differed from Biblical story of creation.
Advances in Chemistry and Physics, early 1800s
Scientists believed atoms made up chemical elements.
Also thought all elements made of same kinds of atoms.
Modern Atomic Theory
John Dalton, 1803.
Atoms of different elements are themselves of difference size and mass.
More Elements Discovered
Marie and Pierre Curie, 1898.
Discovered polonium, radium.
Concluded certain elements release energy when break down, called radioactivity.
Medical Breakthroughs
Preventing Disease
Breakthroughs in late 1800s as result of scientific advances earlier in century.
Fundamental concepts of disease, medical care, sanitation revealed.
Mysteries of what caused diseases began to be solved.
Microbes and Disease
Louis Pasteur showed link between the two, 1870.
Disproved spontaneous generation concept of bacteria from nonliving matter.
Showed bacteria always present though unseen, can reproduce.
Fermentation
Bacteria in the air causes grape juice to turn to wine, milk to sour.
Heating liquids, foods can kill bacteria, prevent fermentation
Process became known as pasteurization, makes foods germ-free
Anthrax
Deadly disease a constant threat to people, livestock.
Pasteur sought to prevent anthrax.
Preview
* Main Idea * New Ideas in Science * Medical Breakthroughs
Main Idea
Advances in science, medicine, and the social sciences led to new theories about the natural world and human mind, an improved quality of life, and longer life spans.
New Ideas in Science
Charles Darwin studied variations in plants, animals in 1800s
Published theories in On the Origin of Species
Developed concept of natural selection.
Creatures well adapted to environment have better chance of surviving, producing offspring.
Over time the species will evolve to improve survival chances.
Indicated humans were descended from other animals.
Many opposed Darwin because theory differed from Biblical story of creation.
Advances in Chemistry and Physics, early 1800s
Scientists believed atoms made up chemical elements.
Also thought all elements made of same kinds of atoms.
Modern Atomic Theory
John Dalton, 1803.
Atoms of different elements are themselves of difference size and mass.
More Elements Discovered
Marie and Pierre Curie, 1898.
Discovered polonium, radium.
Concluded certain elements release energy when break down, called radioactivity.
Medical Breakthroughs
Preventing Disease
Breakthroughs in late 1800s as result of scientific advances earlier in century.
Fundamental concepts of disease, medical care, sanitation revealed.
Mysteries of what caused diseases began to be solved.
Microbes and Disease
Louis Pasteur showed link between the two, 1870.
Disproved spontaneous generation concept of bacteria from nonliving matter.
Showed bacteria always present though unseen, can reproduce.
Fermentation
Bacteria in the air causes grape juice to turn to wine, milk to sour.
Heating liquids, foods can kill bacteria, prevent fermentation
Process became known as pasteurization, makes foods germ-free
Anthrax
Deadly disease a constant threat to people, livestock.
Pasteur sought to prevent anthrax.