March 11

Born in 1811 in Saint-Lô, Urbain Le Verrier studied at the École Polytechnique and quickly distinguished himself in celestial mechanics. He analyzed irregularities in Uranus’s orbit and independently predicted the position of an undiscovered planet. On September 23, 1846, Neptune was observed almost exactly where Le Verrier had calculated. He later served as director of the Paris Observatory, overseeing major advancements in French astronomy. Le Verrier also investigated the orbit of Mercury and contributed to the study of planetary perturbations. His precise mathematical work laid the foundation for modern astrophysics.

Born in 1822, Joseph Bertrand studied at the École Polytechnique and soon joined its faculty as a mathematics professor. He made important contributions to number theory, analysis, and geometry, publishing influential treatises throughout his career. In probability theory, the Bertrand paradox highlighted subtle issues in random chord selection and spurred debates on mathematical foundations. Bertrand also studied economics, formulating the Bertrand competition model to describe price rivalry between firms. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences and later served as its perpetual secretary. His interdisciplinary work bridged pure mathematics and emerging social sciences, shaping both fields into the 20th century.

In his 1900 doctoral thesis, Bachelier introduced the concept of Brownian motion to model stock market fluctuations. His work predated Einstein's study of Brownian motion and was largely unrecognized until mid-20th century. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure and later lectured at the University of Rennes. Bachelier's theories form the basis of the Black–Scholes model and contemporary option pricing. Throughout his career, he published influential papers on stochastic processes and mathematical finance.

Laughlin served as superintendent of the Eugenics Record Office, promoting heredity-based social engineering. He drafted model sterilization laws adopted by multiple U.S. states and influenced immigration restrictions. A leading figure in the eugenics movement, his research emphasized selective breeding to improve human populations. His 1914 book on human hereditary traits became a standard reference among eugenicists. Posthumously criticized for the ethical implications and misuse of his work by totalitarian regimes.

Bush developed the differential analyzer, an early analog computer, at MIT in the 1930s. During World War II, he led the Office of Scientific Research and Development, coordinating U.S. military research. He proposed the memex concept, anticipating hypertext and personal computing decades ahead of its time. After the war, he authored 'Science, The Endless Frontier,' influencing the creation of the National Science Foundation. Bush's vision laid the groundwork for the technological and research infrastructure of the late 20th century.

Sir Ronald Syme was a preeminent classical historian best known for his study of the Roman Republic and Empire. His landmark book "The Roman Revolution" (1939) offered groundbreaking analysis of the transition from republic to autocracy. Born in New Zealand, he later served as Camden Professor of Ancient History at Oxford University. Syme's meticulous research and epigraphic expertise reshaped modern understanding of Roman political and social structures. He received numerous honors, including a knighthood, and influenced generations of scholars in classical studies.

Robert Havemann was a German physical chemist and professor recognized for his research in photochemistry and surface science. He taught at Humboldt University in East Berlin and authored influential scientific papers during the 1950s and 1960s. Havemann became a political dissident, openly criticizing the East German regime's restrictions on intellectual freedom. His outspoken stance led to his expulsion from the Socialist Unity Party and house arrest, making him a symbol of scientific resistance. Despite political persecution, he continued to write and lecture internationally, advocating for academic independence and human rights.

J. C. R. Licklider was an American computer scientist and psychologist who laid the conceptual foundation for human–computer interaction. In 1960, he published the seminal paper “Man-Computer Symbiosis,” envisioning interactive computing decades before its realization. As head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Information Processing Techniques Office, he funded groundbreaking projects that led to the creation of ARPANET. Licklider fostered interdisciplinary research, bringing together computer science, psychology, and engineering communities. His leadership accelerated the development of time-sharing systems, networking, and early graphical interfaces. Colleagues remember him as a visionary thinker who anticipated the social impact of digital communication. His work remains influential in shaping modern computing, the internet, and the concept of ubiquitous information access.

Nicolaas Bloembergen was a Dutch-American physicist awarded the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work in laser spectroscopy. His research elucidated nonlinear optical phenomena, leading to advancements in high-resolution spectroscopy and laser applications. At Harvard University, he mentored generations of physicists and expanded the scope of experimental optics research. Bloembergen’s studies on upconversion and parametric processes paved the way for medical imaging and telecommunications technologies. He served as president of the Optical Society of America and contributed to numerous professional societies. His leadership and scientific insights helped establish the field of quantum electronics. Bloembergen’s legacy endures through his numerous publications and the achievements of his students worldwide.

Margaret Oakley Dayhoff was an American biochemist whose innovative work laid the groundwork for the field of bioinformatics. In the 1960s, she created the Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, the first database of protein sequences. Dayhoff developed one of the first substitution matrices, facilitating comparisons of protein structures. She programmed early computers to analyze biological data, bridging chemistry and information science. Her algorithms enabled researchers to trace evolutionary relationships between proteins. Dayhoff led the National Biomedical Research Foundation, advancing computational methods in biology. Her pioneering contributions continue to underpin genomic and proteomic research worldwide.

Mark Rober was born March 11, 1980, in Orange County, California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University before joining NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he worked on the Curiosity rover. In 2011, Rober started posting DIY science and engineering videos on YouTube, rapidly gaining a massive following. His projects range from glitter bombs to deter package thieves to elaborate obstacle courses for squirrels. He has collaborated on charity initiatives like #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas, raising millions for environmental causes. Rober hosts educational series and continues to inspire youth with hands-on engineering challenges. His blend of entertainment and innovation has made him one of YouTube’s top science communicators.