July 28

Charles Ancillon (1659–1715) was born in Metz to a prominent Huguenot family and studied law at Basel. Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he entered the service of Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, as a legal advisor. Ancillon played a key role in negotiating Protestant refugees’ rights and shaping the principality’s legal system. He later became a professor of history at the University of Heidelberg, authoring influential works on political theory and law. His career bridged the worlds of scholarship and statecraft amid Europe’s religious conflicts.

Ludwig Feuerbach was a German philosopher and anthropologist best known for his critical analysis of religion and its influence on culture and society. Born in 1804 in Landshut, Bavaria, he studied theology before turning to philosophy and anthropology. His seminal work The Essence of Christianity challenged traditional religious beliefs by arguing that gods are human projections. Feuerbach's ideas on materialism and human nature influenced later thinkers, including Marx and Nietzsche. He advocated for a human-centered worldview and secular humanism, leaving a lasting legacy in philosophy and social theory.

Born in Pennsylvania, Perrine began his career at Lick Observatory, mastering astrophotography and comet hunting. In 1909, he became director of the Argentine National Observatory in Córdoba, where he led groundbreaking observations. He discovered Jupiter's moon Elara in 1905 and later identified additional faint satellites. Perrine organized solar eclipse expeditions that produced pioneering images of the solar corona. His tenure transformed the Córdoba observatory into a major research center, advancing planetary and solar astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere. He retired in 1936 and left a lasting legacy in international astronomical collaboration.

Charles Hard Townes (1915–2015) was an American physicist renowned for his pioneering work in quantum electronics. He co-invented the maser (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation), which preceded the laser. Townes shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for his fundamental theories and inventions that revolutionized photonics. He held faculty positions at Columbia University, UC Berkeley, and MIT, impacting research across multiple fields. Townes applied his discoveries to astronomy, medical imaging, and communications, leaving a lasting scientific legacy.

Jacques Piccard was a pioneering oceanographer and engineer who advanced deep-sea exploration. In 1960, he and Don Walsh piloted the Bathyscaphe Trieste to the deepest point in the Mariana Trench. His innovative designs expanded the capabilities of submersible vessels. Piccard worked alongside his father, Auguste Piccard, to push the boundaries of undersea research. He conducted scientific missions worldwide, contributing to marine geology and biology studies. His achievements laid the groundwork for modern deep-ocean exploration technologies.

Baruch S. Blumberg was an American physician, geneticist, and Nobel laureate. He discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967, revolutionizing understanding of liver disease. His work led to the development of the first hepatitis B diagnostic test and vaccine. Blumberg shared the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries. He served as the director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Blumberg's research has saved millions of lives through disease prevention worldwide.

Neil McKendrick is an Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Cambridge. He has published extensively on 18th-century Britain, focusing on social and economic history. His works explore the rise of consumer culture and the impact of the industrial revolution on society. McKendrick served as Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, from 1996 to 2006. He has been praised for his interdisciplinary approach and clear writing style. His research has influenced scholars across history, sociology, and business studies.

Gerd Faltings is a German mathematician, born in 1954 in Gelsenkirchen. He completed his doctorate at the University of Bonn in 1978. In 1986, Faltings was awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Mordell conjecture. His work spans arithmetic geometry, including contributions to Arakelov theory and diophantine approximations. Faltings has held professorships at the University of Bonn, Princeton University, and the Max Planck Institute. He continues to influence modern mathematics through research, teaching, and mentorship.

Sossina Haile (born July 28, 1966) is a professor of Materials Science and Geological Engineering at Caltech. She earned her Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, focusing on electrochemical materials. Haile's groundbreaking work on solid acid and solid oxide fuel cells has advanced sustainable energy technologies. Her research has led to improved fuel cell efficiency and reduced operating temperatures. She has received honors such as the MacArthur Fellowship and the MRS Mid-Career Researcher Award. Beyond academia, she advocates for diversity in STEM and mentors young scientists globally.