October 31

Born in 921 in Kyoto, Abe no Seimei served as an onmyōji at the imperial court, interpreting celestial signs and performing rituals. He mastered yin-yang cosmology and was credited with controlling spirits and demons. His reputed supernatural abilities became the subject of numerous legends, blending history and myth. Seimei authored influential texts on esoteric cosmology, shaping the practice of onmyōdō. Today, he is venerated at the Seimei Shrine, symbolizing Japan’s rich heritage of spiritual and astrological traditions.

Jacob Abbott was an American writer and teacher who penned over 200 works of fiction and nonfiction. Born in 1803, he is best remembered for his ‘Rollo’ series, moral adventure stories for young readers. As an educator, he founded and taught at several schools, emphasizing practical and moral instruction. Abbott’s clear style and engaging characters made his books widely popular in the 19th century. His contributions influenced American children’s literature and educational methods.

Otto Rank was an influential Austrian psychologist and a close collaborator of Sigmund Freud in the early years of psychoanalysis. Born in 1884, he became one of the first members of Freud's inner circle and contributed to foundational psychoanalytic theory. In his groundbreaking work 'The Trauma of Birth,' Rank proposed that birth anxiety played a central role in human psychology, challenging aspects of Freud's instinct theory. He also explored the therapeutic potential of creativity and artistic expression. In 1926, Rank emigrated to the United States, where he continued to develop his ideas and founded his own school of psychotherapy. His writings on the will and human development bridged psychoanalysis and humanistic psychology. Rank's legacy endures in his contributions to the understanding of creativity in therapy.

Jean Cabannes (1885–1959) made seminal contributions to optical physics through his studies of molecular light scattering and the discovery of the Cabannes line in the spectrum of scattered sunlight. He served as a professor at the Collège de France, where he trained a generation of physicists. In 1934 he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in recognition of his work. His research deepened our understanding of atmospheric optics and laid the groundwork for modern light scattering studies. Cabannes's legacy endures in the continued exploration of optical phenomena in atmospheric and molecular physics.

Gabrielle Renaudot Flammarion (1877–1962) was a pioneering French astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and stars. She authored numerous scientific papers and popular science articles that brought complex astronomical concepts to a wider audience. As a leading member and editor of the Société Astronomique de France's bulletin, she played a key role in fostering amateur astronomy. Flammarion conducted observational campaigns that improved understanding of cometary behavior and stellar variability. Her legacy includes mentorship of future astronomers and lasting influence on public interest in the cosmos.

Born in 1935 in China, Lu Jiaxi showed early aptitude for mathematics. Largely self-taught, he pursued independent study in algebra and analysis. He published numerous papers in reputable mathematical journals, earning national recognition. His research focused on abstract structures, influencing subsequent Chinese mathematicians. Later in his career, he held research and teaching positions at leading institutions. Lu’s perseverance and achievements inspired many aspiring scholars without formal education. He passed away in 1983, leaving a legacy of determination and intellectual rigor.

Born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1896, Mulliken studied at MIT and the University of Chicago. He developed molecular orbital theory, transforming the understanding of chemical bonds. His work bridged physics and chemistry, laying foundations for quantum chemistry. In 1966, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his molecular orbital studies. He held professorships at the University of Chicago and the University of Florida. Mulliken authored numerous influential papers and mentored generations of scientists. He died in 1986, his theories remaining central to modern chemical research.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1919, Richard Neustadt became a pioneering scholar of American politics. His book Presidential Power, first published in 1960, redefined how scholars understand the limits and dynamics of executive authority. Neustadt served as an advisor to multiple White House administrations and helmed Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He emphasized the importance of persuasion and personal competence in leadership. His insights continue to shape debates on governance and the presidency.

Born in San Francisco in 1920, Hal Anger combined physics and engineering to revolutionize medical imaging. In 1957, he developed the Anger scintillation camera, enabling doctors to visualize radioactive tracers in the body. His invention laid the foundation for modern nuclear medicine diagnostics. Anger founded Nuclear Chicago to manufacture the camera and was awarded numerous patents. His work greatly improved the detection and treatment of diseases, benefiting millions worldwide.

Erdal İnönü was born in 1926 as the son of Turkey’s second president, İsmet İnönü. He earned his PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and became a professor at Middle East Technical University. İnönü co-founded the Social Democracy Party and played a key role in bringing multi-party democracy to Turkey. He served as acting Prime Minister from 1993 to 1995 in a coalition government. His dual legacy in science and politics left a lasting impact on Turkish academia and public life. He died on October 31, 2007.

Studs Terkel was born in 1912 and became a pioneer of oral history through his radio show and bestselling books. He recorded firsthand testimonies from citizens across America, giving voice to workers, veterans, and civil rights activists. His book 'The Good War' won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for its moving accounts of World War II. Terkel's empathetic interviewing style and commitment to social justice influenced generations of historians and journalists. He continued writing until his passing on October 31, 2008.