December 10

Events - Science & Technology

1684day.year

Isaac Newton's derivation of Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity, contained in the paper De motu corporum in gyrum, is read to the Royal Society by Edmond Halley.

On December 10, 1684, Edmond Halley presented Isaac Newton's paper deriving Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity to the Royal Society.
Edmond Halley read Newton's paper De motu corporum in gyrum before the Royal Society in London. The manuscript demonstrated how Kepler's empirical laws of planetary motion could be derived from Newton's universal law of gravitation. This groundbreaking work bridged observations of celestial bodies with a unifying mathematical framework. Halley's advocacy was instrumental in gaining support for Newton's research. The paper laid the scientific groundwork for Newton's later publication of the Principia Mathematica. It marked a defining moment in the Scientific Revolution and the development of classical mechanics.
1684 Isaac Newton Kepler's laws De motu corporum in gyrum Royal Society Edmond Halley
1799day.year

France adopts the metre as its official unit of length.

France adopted the metre as its official unit of length on December 10, 1799, pioneering the metric system.
The metric system's adoption followed years of scientific and political effort to rationalize weights and measures during the French Revolution. The metre was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the Paris meridian. Replacing a confusing patchwork of local units, the new standard facilitated trade, engineering, and scientific research. French scientists produced physical platinum measuring rods to embody the metre's length. The move laid the foundation for the International System of Units (SI) used worldwide today. France's choice set a precedent for global measurement standardization.
1799 unit of length
1901day.year

The first Nobel Prize ceremony is held in Stockholm on the fifth anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

The first Nobel Prize ceremony honored laureates across science, literature, and peace in Stockholm, inaugurating a global tradition.
The inaugural Nobel Prize ceremony took place in Stockholm in 1901 to honor Alfred Nobel’s legacy across physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. Five laureates received awards in disciplines spanning scientific innovation and humanity. The event showcased international scientific achievements and underscored the value of contributions to knowledge and society. Attendees included royalty, diplomats, and leading scholars from around the world. The ceremony established a lasting tradition of recognizing groundbreaking work and fostering global collaboration. Over time, the Nobel Prizes became the most prestigious awards in their fields.
1901 Nobel Prize