December 15

Born in Wakefield in 1642, Hickes studied at Cambridge before entering the Church of England. He served as Archdeacon of Yorkshire and later as Non-Juring Bishop of Thetford. A dedicated scholar, he authored the first comprehensive Anglo-Saxon grammar, "Institutiones Grammaticae Anglo-Saxonicae," and collected valuable manuscripts of Old Norse literature. His work laid the foundation for modern medieval studies. Despite political and religious upheavals, Hickes remained committed to scholarship until his death in 1715.

Federigo Zuccari (1783–1817) was an Italian astronomer who led the Astronomical Observatory of Naples during a period of significant scientific advancement. Under his direction, the observatory became a key center for celestial observation and instrumentation in southern Italy. Zuccari conducted detailed studies of planetary motions and improved meteorological record-keeping. He was known for his meticulous approach to observational data and his efforts to modernize the observatory’s equipment. His contributions helped lay the groundwork for future generations of Italian astronomers.

Daniel Rutherford (1749–1819) was a pioneering Scottish chemist and physician credited with the discovery of nitrogen in 1772. While working at the University of Edinburgh, he isolated ‘noxious air’ by removing oxygen and carbon dioxide from atmospheric gas samples. This breakthrough provided critical insight into the composition of the air and paved the way for modern atmospheric chemistry. Rutherford later practiced medicine in Manchester and was a respected lecturer in botany and chemistry. His work influenced prominent scientists of the Chemical Revolution and remains a foundational discovery in chemical science.

Jacques Charles François Sturm (1803–1855) was a distinguished French mathematician whose work on differential equations and algebra shaped the field of mathematical analysis. He introduced Sturm’s theorem, providing a method to determine the number of real roots of a polynomial within a given interval. Sturm collaborated with Joseph Liouville on the Sturm–Liouville theory, influencing modern physics and engineering. As a professor at the Collège de France, he trained generations of mathematicians and published influential textbooks in geometry and analysis. His rigorous methods and teaching legacy cemented his reputation in 19th-century European mathematics.

Alfred Bird (1811–1878) was an English chemist whose culinary inventions revolutionized home baking. Motivated by his wife’s yeast allergy, he developed custard powder in 1837 and baking powder in 1843, offering reliable leavening without yeast. His innovations led to the founding of Bird & Co., which became a leading supplier of food additives across Britain and beyond. Bird’s baking powder provided consistent results and helped popularize quick breads and cakes in Victorian kitchens. His dual role as scientist and businessman ensured that his inventions were both practical and widely accessible, leaving a lasting impact on the food industry.

Born in Vienna in 1900. He introduced the Pauli exclusion principle in 1925, a cornerstone of quantum mechanics. In 1930, he predicted the existence of the neutrino to explain beta decay. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1945 for his discovery. He held a professorship at ETH Zurich and influenced generations of physicists. Renowned for his critical insights, he was nicknamed the “conscience of physics.” His work laid the foundations for spin theory and quantum field research. He died in Zurich in 1958.

Born in Metz in 1886, he studied at the École Normale Supérieure. Lévy developed key concepts in probability, including Lévy processes and distributions. His work on functional analysis and potential theory influenced modern mathematics. During World War II, he fled to the United States and continued his research. After the war, he returned to France and taught at the University of Paris. He published numerous papers that remain foundational in stochastic processes. He died in 1971, leaving a vast legacy across multiple mathematical fields.

William Dale Phillips was born in 1925 and earned his Ph.D. in chemistry before joining the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He conducted groundbreaking research on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), developing paramagnetic shift reagents that transformed molecular analysis. Phillips also made significant contributions to coordination chemistry and bioinorganic studies. He served as president of the American Chemical Society and received the prestigious Priestley Medal. A prolific author, he published over 200 scientific papers and mentored countless students. Phillips consulted for industry and advocated for science education until his death in 1993. His innovations continue to influence modern chemical research.

Heinrich Gross (1914-2005) was an Austrian physician and psychiatrist whose early career included research in neuropsychiatry. During World War II, he participated in the Nazi child euthanasia program, conducting post-mortem studies on victims. After the war, Gross resumed his psychiatric practice and academic work, becoming a prominent figure in Austria’s medical community. His past actions resurfaced decades later, leading to legal investigations and public debate over accountability. The controversies surrounding Gross have prompted discussions about medical ethics and historical memory in psychiatry. He died amid ongoing legal scrutiny, leaving a complex legacy that intertwines medical contributions with moral questions.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Eliza Atkins Gleason earned her Ph.D. in library science from the University of Chicago in 1940, becoming the first African American to do so. She led the library schools at Atlanta University and Texas College, shaping the education of countless librarians. Gleason authored the seminal work "The Southern Negro and the Public Library", highlighting racial inequalities in library services. Her advocacy laid the groundwork for more inclusive library policies across the American South. Throughout her career, she championed access to information and played a key role in advancing professional standards in librarianship.

Born in 1940, Eugene Victor Wolfenstein earned his doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago before turning to psychoanalytic and social theory. He taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan and UCLA, where he examined the intersections of psychology, culture, and power. Wolfenstein authored influential works such as _Psychoanalytic Marxism_ and _The Victims of Democracy_, exploring how unconscious drives shape political behavior. His interdisciplinary approach opened new dialogues between psychoanalysis and the social sciences. He remained active as a scholar and educator until his death in 2010.

Donald Metcalf dedicated his career to understanding the regulation of blood cell production and was instrumental in the discovery of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). His research at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne paved the way for CSFs to be used in treating cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Metcalf's work earned him numerous honors, including the Lasker Award and a knighthood for his contributions to medical science. He published hundreds of papers that advanced knowledge of hematopoiesis and immunology. Metcalf died on December 15, 2014, leaving a legacy that continues to impact cancer research and treatment worldwide.