May 24

William Gilbert (1544–1603) was an English physician and natural philosopher best known for his seminal work De Magnete. In this treatise, he proposed that the Earth itself is a giant magnet, laying the groundwork for modern geomagnetism. Gilbert coined the term electricus to describe materials that attract other objects after being rubbed, the root of the word electricity. He served as court physician to Queen Elizabeth I and conducted experiments using a terrella, a spherical magnet model of the Earth. Gilbert's emphasis on experimental methods influenced the scientific revolution and inspired later figures such as Francis Bacon and William Harvey. He also made contributions to astronomy and anatomy, advancing the understanding of the human body and celestial phenomena. Gilbert's legacy endures in the unit of magnetic field strength, the gilbert.

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was born in 1686 and became a leading physicist and engineer. He invented the first reliable mercury-in-glass thermometer. In 1724, he introduced the Fahrenheit temperature scale, setting the freezing point of water at 32°F and boiling at 212°F. His precise instruments greatly improved temperature measurement accuracy. Fahrenheit's work advanced thermodynamics and weather science. He died in 1736, but his temperature scale remains in use today.

Alexander von Nordmann was born in 1803 in Finland and became a pioneering biologist and paleontologist. He conducted extensive research on fossils from the Russian Empire, describing numerous extinct species. Nordmann published several works on zoology and paleontology, enhancing scientific understanding of prehistoric life. He held academic positions and contributed to the establishment of museums and collections. His careful observations and classifications influenced later paleontological studies. Nordmann passed away in 1866, but his contributions to natural history are still recognized today.

Charlie Taylor was born in 1868 in Dayton, Ohio, and worked as a mechanic in the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop. He designed and built a lightweight four-cylinder gasoline engine in 1903, delivering the power needed for sustained flight. Taylor’s engine powered the Wright Flyer during its historic first flights at Kitty Hawk in December 1903. His innovative work pioneered internal combustion engine design for aviation and launched the era of powered flight. Despite his crucial role, Taylor remained a quiet collaborator whose contributions became recognized only after his death.

Benjamin N. Cardozo was born in 1870 in New York City and graduated from Columbia Law School with highest honors. He served as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals before being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1932. Cardozo authored landmark opinions in areas such as tort law, property rights, and First Amendment freedoms. His writings emphasized moral principles and the human element in legal reasoning, shaping American jurisprudence. Cardozo’s scholarly approach and clear writing made him one of the most respected justices in Supreme Court history.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth was born in 1878 in Oakland, California, and became one of the first female engineers in the U.S. She earned degrees in psychology and engineering, collaborating with her husband, Frank Gilbreth, on motion study research. The Gilbreths’ work laid the foundation for modern industrial engineering and ergonomic design in factories. Lillian authored influential books, including Cheaper by the Dozen, which chronicled her family life and efficiency experiments. She served on government committees during both World Wars and became the first woman elected to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

William F. Albright earned his Ph.D. in Semitic languages from Johns Hopkins University before conducting groundbreaking excavations in the Near East. His work at sites in Palestine and Iraq provided valuable evidence supporting historical accounts in the Old Testament. A prolific author, he published influential studies on ancient ceramics, epigraphy, and biblical history. Albright taught at Johns Hopkins for decades, mentoring generations of archaeologists and scholars. His interdisciplinary approach bridged archaeology, linguistics, and religious studies. Albright's legacy continues to shape the field of Near Eastern archaeology.

R. B. Bernstein was a renowned scholar of American constitutional history. He served as a professor at St. John's University School of Law, specializing in early U.S. politics and law. His publications include biographies of John Marshall and analyses of the Constitutional Convention. Bernstein's work offered fresh insights into the legal philosophies of figures like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He was widely respected for his rigorous research and accessible writing before his passing in 2023.

Valerie Taylor (born May 24, 1964) is an American computer scientist renowned for her work in high-performance computing (HPC) and parallel processing performance analysis. As a professor at Texas A&M University, she directs research on performance modeling, power-aware computing, and programming models for large-scale systems. Taylor founded the Center for the Development of Technological Talents to support underrepresented students in computing and has served as president of the ACM Special Interest Group on High Performance Computing. She has been honored as an IEEE Fellow and an ACM Fellow for her contributions to the field. Taylor is celebrated for advancing diversity in STEM and mentoring the next generation of computing innovators.

Magnus Manske is a German biochemist and computer programmer born in 1974. While working at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, he developed the original wiki software that became MediaWiki in 2002. MediaWiki's efficient page editing and version control features revolutionized collaborative online content creation. His work has enabled Wikipedia and thousands of other wiki sites to thrive with user-generated contributions. In addition to his software achievements, Manske has contributed to bioinformatics research and open-source initiatives.

Pedram Javaheri is an Iranian-American meteorologist and journalist celebrated for his insightful weather reporting and analysis. Born in Tehran in 1983, he moved to the United States to pursue his passion for atmospheric sciences. He earned a degree in meteorology from San Jose State University and began his career at local news stations in California. Javaheri later joined CNN International, where he reports on significant weather events around the world. He is praised for his clear presentation style and dedication to educating viewers about climate trends and severe weather phenomena.