November 02

John Light Atlee (1799–1885) was a prominent American physician and surgeon based in Pennsylvania. He served as a faculty member at Jefferson Medical College, educating generations of medical students. Atlee was known for his dedication to clinical teaching and for introducing improved surgical techniques at Pennsylvania Hospital. He played a key role in professionalizing American medicine during a period of rapid medical advancement. Through his practice and mentorship, Atlee helped shape modern medical education in the United States.

George Boole (1815–1864) was an English mathematician, philosopher, and logician. He introduced Boolean algebra, a formal system of logic that serves as the foundation for binary computing. Boole's 1854 work 'An Investigation of the Laws of Thought' applied algebraic methods to logical reasoning. His theories later became central to the design of digital circuits and computer programming. Boole's interdisciplinary approach bridged mathematics and philosophy, influencing fields from artificial intelligence to information theory.

Henrik Schück (1855–1947) was a prominent Swedish historian, author, and academic specializing in Scandinavian literary history. He served as a professor at Uppsala University, focusing on medieval and early modern Scandinavian literature. Schück published extensively on figures such as Ludvig Holberg and the history of Swedish drama and prose. His multi-volume "History of Swedish Literature" became a foundational reference for scholars in the Nordic countries. He contributed to the biographical dictionary "Svenskt biografiskt lexikon" and various literary journals. Schück was instrumental in establishing literary history as an academic discipline in Sweden. His scholarly legacy endures through his publications and influence on Scandinavian literary studies.

He directed the Harvard College Observatory for over three decades, from 1921 to 1952. Shapley used Cepheid variable stars to reveal that the Milky Way was far larger than previously believed. He determined that the Sun lies well outside the galaxy's central region, reshaping our cosmic perspective. A passionate educator, he lectured widely and authored books to bring astronomy to the public. His mentorship of young astronomers helped build the field of galactic research throughout the 20th century. He died in 1972, remembered as a visionary in our understanding of the Milky Way.

He began his career designing gliders with advanced tail-less and delta wing configurations. In the 1930s, he developed the delta wing concepts that would influence supersonic flight. He led the team that created the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, the first operational rocket-powered fighter. After World War II, he moved to the United States and contributed to NASA's lifting body research. His innovative designs laid groundwork for both military aviation and early space vehicles. He died in 1976, remembered as a visionary in high-speed aerodynamics.

Raphael M. Robinson earned his Ph.D. under Alonzo Church and collaborated with John von Neumann on early problems in automata and computation. He introduced Robinson arithmetic, exploring decidability issues in mathematical logic and influencing the development of computability theory. Robinson’s research also spanned number theory and topology, where he made significant contributions to the understanding of mathematical structures. As a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, he mentored many students and authored influential texts. His interdisciplinary approach bridged mathematics and philosophy, shaping the foundations of theoretical computer science.

Michael Loewe is a leading scholar of Imperial China, specializing in the Han dynasty’s political structures and cultural developments. Educated at Cambridge University, he pursued an academic career that included teaching positions at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and Harvard University. His landmark books, such as 'Records of Han Administration' and 'Ways to Paradise,' remain foundational texts in sinology. Elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1978, Loewe’s meticulous work on ancient Chinese sources has profoundly influenced historians and students of East Asia.

Born in Latvia in 1928, Shulamith Shahar emigrated to Israel and became a leading medieval historian. She specialized in the study of social structures and women's roles in medieval Europe. Her groundbreaking research on aging and community in antiquity changed perceptions in historical scholarship. As a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she supervised many doctoral students and expanded access to medieval studies. Shahar's interdisciplinary approach blended history, sociology, and gender studies, earning international acclaim. Her work illuminated the daily lives of marginalized groups, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.

Richard E. Taylor conducted groundbreaking experiments at Stanford University's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. His research on deep inelastic electron-proton scattering provided evidence for the quark structure of matter. In 1990, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for these fundamental contributions to the Standard Model. Taylor was a dedicated educator, mentoring students and shaping physics curricula for decades. He held the J. Burton Jones Professorship at Stanford and authored influential scientific papers. Even after retirement, he remained active in research and engaged with the scientific community.

Shere Hite conducted in-depth, survey-based research into human sexuality that challenged prevailing beliefs about women's sexual experiences. Her 1976 publication, "The Hite Report on Female Sexuality," became an international bestseller and fueled widespread discussion on sexual health and feminism. She followed this work with studies on male sexuality and relationship dynamics. Hite's research emphasized personal testimony and quantitative analysis, shifting both academic and public perspectives on sexual behavior. Throughout her career, she lectured and taught at universities, advocating for comprehensive sex education. Her candid approach and controversial findings paved the way for future scholarship in sexology. She passed away in 2020, leaving a legacy of groundbreaking work in the study of human sexuality.

Oldřich Pelčák was a Czechoslovak aerospace engineer and backup cosmonaut selected for his country's first space mission. Born in 1943, he graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering and joined the Soviet Interkosmos program in the 1970s. He trained extensively for the 1978 Soyuz 28 mission that carried Vladimír Remek, the first non-Soviet, non-American in space. Although Pelčák did not fly, he contributed significantly to spacecraft systems testing and crew support. After his cosmonaut training, he worked on aviation safety and flight research at the Prague Aero/Space Center. Pelčák shared his experiences through lectures and publications, inspiring future generations of Czech scientists and explorers. He passed away in 2023, remembered as a pioneer of Czechoslovak space exploration.