Henrietta Swan Leavitt was a historical astronomer. She studied period-luminosity relationships, particularly the period of luminosity in Cepheid Variables. Luminosity in Cepheid Variables is helpful when finding the distances of star clusters and the galaxies in which they reside. She studied at Oberlin College, later continuing her education at Radcliff University. She worked at Harvard University, determining the brightness of the stars. Unfortunately, a man whom she worked with took all the credit for her work, which has let scientists mark stars in the galaxy. Now, Leavitt is credited with her discovery. In honor of her contributions to science, an asteroid and a crater on the moon are named after her.
Barbara McClintock, an American scientist, challenged the ideas surrounding genes, discovering no two genes could be the same. In 1919, McClintock went to study at Cornell University, where her love for genetics began. McClintock would go on to study the movement of genes, and moving DNA sequences called “jumping genes”. Genes carry the information that determines human traits, so how could just one person learn so much about them? McClinktok had an obsession with genes and earned her doctorate at Cornell before going to teach at the University of Missouri. She came up with the idea that genes can be transported. Years after her discovery, she was later given a Nobel peace prize. Her discovery has helped us with the knowledge of evolution, they also can help identify new diseases and potential cancers.
Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover what a comet was, and was the first female scientist to have a salary. She grew fond of astronomy after spending time with her brother. He gifted her a telescope, which she used to discover the Herschel comet. When her brother became King George III’s of Great Britain personal astronomer he would receive 250 pounds, Herschel herself would receive 50 of that. This made her the first woman astronomer to receive pay. She listed all of the things she had discovered and that was found by the Royal Irish Academy, who then made her an honorary member. Near the time of her death, she had become well respected and known, making her a pioneer in astronomy.
Marie Maynard Daly was the first African American woman to get a Ph.D. in chemistry. She studied how the body’s chemicals had an effect on digestion, finding the effect cholesterol would leave on our bodies. Daly studied factors that put people at risk for cardiovascular disease. Daly was one of the only African American women to be credited by her male coworkers for her research. Daly went on to discover the basic building blocks of DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, which carries the instructions for how our bodies work. During her time in the medical field, she created a program for minority children to put them through medical school. Throughout her life, Daly helped increase knowledge about DNA, and helped others discover their passion for science.
About The Author
JayLynn is a member of student council, human rights club, and her schools newspaper so far. She enjoys helping people but sometimes she does enjoy time to herself, it that spare time she enjoys watching TV and reading books. In her younger age, she enjoyed writing stories, which she still likes to do today.
Sources
Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/transposons-the-jumping-genes-518/#:~:text=Transposons: The Jumping Genes&text=Transposable elements (TEs), also,Harbor Laboratory in New York.
“Caroline Herschel.” Brooklyn Museum: Caroline Herschel, www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/caroline_herschel.
“Henrietta Swan Leavitt.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Henrietta-Swan-Leavitt.
“Marie Maynard Daly.” Marie Maynard Daly | Columbia Celebrates Black History and Culture, blackhistory.news.columbia.edu/people/marie-maynard-daly.
Mia, et al. “Home.” Famous Scientists, www.famousscientists.org/caroline-herschel/.
“The Nobel Prize: Women Who Changed Science: Barbara McClintock.” The Official Website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/womenwhochangedscience/stories/barbara-mcclintock.
“Who Was Dr. Marie Maynard Daly?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dr-marie-maynard-daly-the-first-black-woman-with-a-phd-in-chemistry.
“Period-Luminosity Relation.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/science/period-luminosity-relation.
Comments