May 17

Born in Paris in 1713, Clairaut made significant contributions to celestial mechanics and the theory of tides. At age 16, he formulated Clairaut’s theorem on the Earth’s oblateness and joined the expedition to Lapland. He collaborated with Euler and d’Alembert on the three-body problem and gravitational theory. Clairaut’s work on the lunar theory improved predictions of the Moon’s motion and eclipses. He also studied geophysics, including measurements of meridian arcs to determine Earth’s size. Clairaut died in 1765, leaving a lasting impact on mathematics and astronomy.

Born in 1710, Heberden studied at St. John’s College, Cambridge, and later became a renowned London physician. He introduced the concept of angina pectoris in his ‘Commentaries on the History and Cure of Diseases’. Heberden’s methodical case descriptions advanced the practice of clinical diagnosis. He served as a Fellow of the Royal Society and delivered influential lectures on medical ethics and hospital care. His medical writings continued to guide physicians throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. He died in 1801, leaving a legacy as a founder of modern clinical medicine.

Leopold Auenbrugger was an Austrian physician who introduced the technique of chest percussion in medical diagnosis in 1761. Born in Graz in 1722, he studied medicine at the University of Vienna. His method allowed physicians to detect fluid in the lungs and other thoracic conditions non-invasively. His work was published in his treatise 'Inventum Novum' in 1761 but gained recognition posthumously. Auenbrugger’s innovation laid the groundwork for modern clinical examination techniques and influenced generations of physicians.

Boris Borisovich Golitsyn was born in 1862 into a noble family in Russia and studied physics at the University of Saint Petersburg. He emerged as a leading figure in the nascent field of seismology, designing the first practical seismograph in 1906. His instrument greatly improved the detection and recording of seismic waves, enabling more accurate analysis of earthquakes. Golitsyn conducted extensive research on the propagation of seismic signals and the Earth’s interior structure. He established a seismological laboratory that trained a new generation of geophysicists. His theoretical work and innovations laid the foundation for modern earthquake monitoring. Golitsyn’s contributions continue to influence geophysical science worldwide.

Born in Prague in 1877, Ehrlich pursued studies in law and economics before settling in Vienna. He became a leading figure in the Austrian Social Democratic Party, championing workers' rights and social reform. Ehrlich served on the Vienna City Council and was known for his efforts to improve housing and labor conditions for the urban poor. An outspoken critic of rising anti-Semitism and authoritarianism, he used his academic background to inform progressive policies. Following the Anschluss of 1938, Ehrlich was arrested by Nazi authorities and died in custody under tragic circumstances. His legacy endures in the social welfare initiatives he helped pioneer in early 20th-century Vienna.

Born in Ungvár, Austro-Hungary (now Ukraine) in 1895, Fodor studied psychology and psychoanalysis in Vienna. He emigrated to the United States in the 1930s, where he examined occult phenomena with a scholarly approach. Fodor published seminal works on poltergeists and haunting cases, blending forensic investigation with psychological theory. He challenged spiritualist interpretations, proposing that many paranormal events stemmed from unconscious mind processes. His rigorous methodology helped legitimize parapsychology as a field of scientific inquiry amid widespread skepticism. Fodor's work laid the groundwork for modern research into the psychology of anomalous experiences.

Ernest Nash was a pioneering German-American photographer and classical scholar specializing in architectural photography. Born in Hanover in 1898, he fled Nazi Germany and settled in Italy, where he founded the Photographic Archive of Classical Architecture in Rome. His meticulously composed photographs documented ancient ruins with unprecedented depth, becoming essential resources for archaeologists and historians. Nash published voluminous works showcasing his elegant imaging techniques and scholarly insights. His legacy endures through exhibitions and publications that preserve the visual heritage of classical antiquity.

Gunnar Myrdal was a groundbreaking Swedish economist and sociologist whose research encompassed monetary theory, development economics, and race relations. His seminal work "An American Dilemma" examined the economic and social status of African Americans and influenced the U.S. civil rights movement. In 1974, he received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his comprehensive contributions to economic theory and for integrating sociological insights. Myrdal served in government positions and advised international organizations on development policy. His interdisciplinary approach reshaped social science research and policy debates worldwide.

Jacques-Louis Lions was born in 1928 and became one of the foremost French mathematicians of the 20th century. He made seminal contributions to the theory of partial differential equations and control theory. He served as professor at the University of Paris and at the Collège de France. He was a founding director of INRIA, the French institute for research in computer science and applied mathematics. He held leadership roles in the French Academy of Sciences and received numerous honors for his work. His research influenced modern computational methods and engineering applications. Lions died in 2001, leaving a profound legacy in applied mathematics.

Born in 1929, Gerald Edelman shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for revealing the chemical structure of antibody molecules, a breakthrough that reshaped immunology. He earned his MD and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania before conducting key research at Rockefeller University. Later, Edelman founded the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, where he developed the theory of Neural Darwinism to explain brain development and cognition. He authored several influential books bridging biology and consciousness studies, inspiring interdisciplinary research. Edelman's pioneering contributions left a lasting impact on both molecular biology and neuroscience until his passing in 2014.