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1845 in science
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<h2 id="astronomy">Astronomy</h2> <ul><li>April – <a href="/facts/William_Parsons%2c_3rd_Earl_of_Rosse/bPQ37rMF">Lord Rosse</a> discovers that the nebula <a href="/facts/Whirlpool_Galaxy/tah45nH8">M51</a> has a spiral structure.</li> <li>September–October – <a href="/facts/Cornish_people/zxGlI9jK">Cornish</a> mathematician <a href="/facts/John_Couch_Adams/XmmkCqkw">John Couch Adams</a> communicates to <a href="/facts/James_Challis/LF8VStdw">James Challis</a> and <a href="/facts/George_Biddell_Airy/R16bNg0k">George Biddell Airy</a> his calculations demonstrating that a body (<a href="/facts/Neptune/1eucwHIC">Neptune</a>) is perturbing the orbit of <a href="/facts/Uranus/x7YwT1ar">Uranus</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a></li> <li>November 10 – <a href="/facts/Urbain_Le_Verrier/mVzvmAPM">Urbain Le Verrier</a> presents to the <i><a href="/facts/Acad%25C3%25A9mie_des_sciences/zF42DYQv">Académie des sciences</a></i> in Paris a memoir showing that existing theories fail to account for the motion of Uranus.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></li> <li>Construction begins in <a href="/facts/Ireland/35vYxXdP">Ireland</a> of the "<a href="/facts/Leviathan_of_Parsonstown/xHIaIHHX">Leviathan of Parsonstown</a>", a <a href="/facts/Telescope/BDwYahhR">telescope</a> built by Lord Rosse.</li></ul> <h2 id="biology">Biology</h2> <ul><li>August–September – Previously unknown <a href="/facts/Potato_blight/cSnNMCEg">Potato blight</a> strikes the <a href="/facts/Potato/F8jRVExs">potato</a> crop in Ireland: start of the <a href="/facts/Great_Famine_(Ireland)/pn4ByRj8">Great Famine</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="chemistry">Chemistry</h2> <ul><li>March 17 – <a href="/facts/Stephen_Perry_(inventor)/b410BrTu">Stephen Perry</a> patents the <a href="/facts/Rubber_band/PMSbEPEp">rubber band</a> in <a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL">England</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Edmond_Fr%25C3%25A9my/7obrl4C5">Edmond Frémy</a> discovers the <a href="/facts/Oxidizing_agent/1FQzB8pQ">oxidizing agent</a> <a href="/facts/Fr%25C3%25A9my%2527s_salt/monCbHyT">Frémy's salt</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="exploration">Exploration</h2> <ul><li>August – <a href="/facts/John_Franklin/KJ3DWVB7">John Franklin</a>'s <a href="/facts/Franklin%2527s_lost_expedition/zGW7WS42">expedition</a> with <a href="/facts/HMS_Erebus_(1826)/YMnqeEma">HMS <i>Erebus</i></a> and <a href="/facts/HMS_Terror_(1813)/yySdvPJA">HMS <i>Terror</i></a> to find the <a href="/facts/Northwest_Passage/Y0CrHCfL">Northwest Passage</a> is last seen entering <a href="/facts/Baffin_Bay/xjveLbDX">Baffin Bay</a> prior to its mysterious disappearance.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="medicine">Medicine</h2> <ul><li>December 27 – <a href="/facts/Anesthesia/b3MKVn8E">Anesthesia</a> is used in <a href="/facts/Childbirth/KaWFJ4kG">childbirth</a> for the first time, by Dr <a href="/facts/Crawford_Long/cVgtFrqD">Crawford Long</a> in <a href="/facts/Jefferson%2c_Georgia/HDxULE7Y">Jefferson, Georgia</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="physics">Physics</h2> <ul><li>September 13 – <a href="/facts/Michael_Faraday/NDcc3lyt">Michael Faraday</a> discovers that an intense <a href="/facts/Magnetic_field/Ta8Ev588">magnetic field</a> can rotate the plane of polarized light, the <a href="/facts/Faraday_effect/zvHepIvU">Faraday effect</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/C._H._D._Buys_Ballot/AB0oLL9w">C. H. D. Buys Ballot</a> confirms the <a href="/facts/Doppler_effect/bzrK1BKf">Doppler effect</a> for <a href="/facts/Sound_wave/DlKXlPuF">sound waves</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Kirchhoff%2527s_circuit_laws/fGAAFXB3">Kirchhoff's circuit laws</a> are first described by German physicist <a href="/facts/Gustav_Kirchhoff/Ygfzlywy">Gustav Kirchhoff</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="technology">Technology</h2> <ul><li>July 26–August 10 – <a href="/facts/Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel/kKeQ1IV6">Isambard Kingdom Brunel</a>’s iron <a href="/facts/Steamship/Ay0fhKBW">steamship</a> <i><a href="/facts/SS_Great_Britain/DDlSv9sS">Great Britain</a></i> makes the <a href="/facts/Transatlantic_Crossing/e7FuVL5C">Transatlantic Crossing</a> from <a href="/facts/Liverpool/kTqATlxg">Liverpool</a> to <a href="/facts/New_York_City/YlyvFmVC">New York</a>, the first <a href="/facts/Propeller/0IN0JKXC">screw propelled</a> vessel to make the passage.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Saxhorn/MWpNkp9h">saxhorn</a> family of valved <a href="/facts/Brass_instrument/UP94qM52">brass instruments</a> is <a href="/facts/Patent/LjT2bG3A">patented</a> by <a href="/facts/Adolphe_Sax/z8dgfgvF">Adolphe Sax</a> in France.</li></ul> <h2 id="publications">Publications</h2> <ul><li>January 14 – <a href="/facts/Deutsche_Physikalische_Gesellschaft/4HKm8hRV">Physikalische Gesellschaft zu Berlin</a> established and begins publishing <i><a href="/facts/Fortschritte_der_Physik/4HKm8hRV">Fortschritte der Physik</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Verhandlungen/4HKm8hRV">Verhandlungen</a></i>.</li> <li>August 28 – The journal <i><a href="/facts/Scientific_American/jkl8bhUN">Scientific American</a></i> begins publication.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Alexander_von_Humboldt/5AuxyDbh">Alexander von Humboldt</a>'s <i>Kosmos: Entwurf einer physischen Weltbeschreibung</i> begins publication.</li></ul> <h2 id="awards">Awards</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Copley_Medal/bBwd6QzN">Copley Medal</a>: <a href="/facts/Theodor_Schwann/zG3Cb08t">Theodor Schwann</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Wollaston_Medal/uVkuXBYJ">Wollaston Medal</a> for Geology: <a href="/facts/John_Phillips_(geologist)/LxmU84A6">John Phillips</a></li></ul> <h2 id="births">Births</h2> <ul><li>February 17 (Old Style March 1) – <a href="/facts/Fyodor_Pirotsky/4Qv9uBUB">Fyodor Pirotsky</a> (died <a href="/facts/1898_in_science/fdxwBTSM">1898</a>), Ukrainian-born Russian military and electrical engineer and inventor.</li> <li>March 3 – <a href="/facts/Georg_Cantor/k5v1DvW4">Georg Cantor</a> (died <a href="/facts/1918_in_science/pShT8ADH">1918</a>), Russian-born German <a href="/facts/Mathematician/eaFSR8Fx">mathematician</a>.</li> <li>March 27 – <a href="/facts/Wilhelm_R%25C3%25B6ntgen/xQ9DzpWm">Wilhelm Röntgen</a> (died <a href="/facts/1923_in_science/P8DhUfan">1923</a>), German <a href="/facts/Physicist/cQcgvSIm">physicist</a>, discoverer of <a href="/facts/X-rays/wseP79cN">X-rays</a>, <a href="/facts/Nobel_laureate/3vGWzdwa">Nobel laureate</a>.</li> <li>April 21 – <a href="/facts/William_Healey_Dall/gXP6Q1vt">William Healey Dall</a> (died <a href="/facts/1927_in_science/zk9YrBCk">1927</a>), American <a href="/facts/Malacologist/ajD3luB7">malacologist</a> and explorer.</li> <li>May 4 – <a href="/facts/William_Kingdon_Clifford/PKY4D3JI">William Kingdon Clifford</a> (died <a href="/facts/1879_in_science/6aYnyD1n">1879</a>), English <a href="/facts/Geometer/lg9o1Pjo">geometer</a>.</li> <li>May 16 – <a href="/facts/%25C3%2589lie_Metchnikoff/GeLMnBvl">Élie Metchnikoff</a> (died <a href="/facts/1916_in_science/bafd4Cjp">1916</a>), Russian-born <a href="/facts/Microbiologist/cqEyJwNK">microbiologist</a>, Nobel laureate.</li> <li>June 16 – <a href="/facts/Heinrich_Dressel/Tm8VTwPV">Heinrich Dressel</a> (died <a href="/facts/1920_in_science/FcwHBQPg">1920</a>), German <a href="/facts/Archaeologist/K3Q5P38R">archaeologist</a>.</li> <li>July 4 – <a href="/facts/Thomas_John_Barnardo/WtXFpJlQ">Thomas Barnardo</a> (died <a href="/facts/1905_in_science/L89WrSLG">1905</a>), Irish-born <a href="/facts/Physician/qJ3woFvG">physician</a> and <a href="/facts/Philanthropist/Xep5s0gd">philanthropist</a>.</li> <li>September 11 – <a href="/facts/%25C3%2589mile_Baudot/AzkpcLwt">Émile Baudot</a> (died <a href="/facts/1903_in_science/vzmumpjg">1903</a>), French <a href="/facts/Telegraph/JhRYDSDu">telegraph</a> engineer.</li> <li>November 14 – <a href="/facts/Ulisse_Dini/N33MSsfn">Ulisse Dini</a> (died <a href="/facts/1918_in_science/pShT8ADH">1918</a>), Italian mathematician.</li></ul> <h2 id="deaths">Deaths</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/January_11/QC9kQSe0">January 11</a> – <a href="/facts/Etheldred_Benett/SNRoSanA">Etheldred Benett</a> (born <a href="/facts/1776_in_science/gEMXTQJq">1776</a>), British geologist.</li> <li>March 13 – <a href="/facts/John_Frederic_Daniell/14XtbIpK">John Frederic Daniell</a> (born <a href="/facts/1790_in_science/X4evzcDN">1790</a>), English <a href="/facts/Chemist/N09K7Bdm">chemist</a> and <a href="/facts/Physicist/cQcgvSIm">physicist</a>.</li> <li>March 18 – '<a href="/facts/Johnny_Appleseed/LCDPFhWM">Johnny Appleseed</a>' (John Chapman) (born <a href="/facts/1774_in_science/T5ByrBMR">1774</a>), American <a href="/facts/Plant_nursery/xQbBgGSp">nurseryman</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li>April 10 – <a href="/facts/Thomas_Sewall/lA1ESX8Y">Thomas Sewall</a> (born <a href="/facts/1786_in_science/slrNPfAC">1786</a>), American <a href="/facts/Anatomist/p8TCWJuV">anatomist</a>.</li> <li>October 18 – <a href="/facts/Dominique%2c_comte_de_Cassini/x0qTVT5s">Dominique, comte de Cassini</a> (born <a href="/facts/1748_in_science/MF2KD27E">1748</a>), French <a href="/facts/Astronomer/ronF8j4a">astronomer</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Jean_Henri_Jaume_Saint-Hilaire/68utMn9Y">Jean Henri Jaume Saint-Hilaire</a> (born <a href="/facts/1772_in_science/zyDLwvxa">1772</a>), French <a href="/facts/Botanist/PaIRoxnb">botanist</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Sheehan, William; Kollerstrom, Nicholas; Waff, Craig B. (2004-11-22). "The Case of the Pilfered Planet - Did the British steal Neptune?". Scientific American. 291 (6): 92–99. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1204-92. PMID 15597985. <a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000CA850-8EA4-119B-8EA483414B7FFE9F" target="_blank">http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000CA850-8EA4-119B-8EA483414B7FFE9F</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Adams, John Couch" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. <a href="/wiki/Hugh_Chisholm" target="_blank">/wiki/Hugh_Chisholm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"BBC Short History of Ireland". <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ashorthistory/archive/intro181.shtml" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ashorthistory/archive/intro181.shtml</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Palmer, Alan; Palmer, Veronica (1992). The Chronology of British History. London: Century Ltd. pp. 267–268. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2. <a href="0-7126-5616-2" target="_blank">0-7126-5616-2</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-14-102715-0. <a href="0-14-102715-0" target="_blank">0-14-102715-0</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>The Hutchinson Factfinder. Helicon. 1999. p. 549. ISBN 1-85986-000-1. <a href="1-85986-000-1" target="_blank">1-85986-000-1</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Buys Ballot, C. H. D. (1845). "Akustische Versuche auf der Niederländischen Eisenbahn, nebst gelegentlichen Bemerkungen zur Theorie des Hrn. Prof. Doppler". Annalen der Physik und Chemie (in German). 142 (11): 321–351. Bibcode:1845AnP...142..321B. doi:10.1002/andp.18451421102. <a href="https://zenodo.org/record/1423606" target="_blank">https://zenodo.org/record/1423606</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Fox, Stephen (2003). Transatlantic: Samuel Cunard, Isambard Brunel, and the Great Atlantic Steamships. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-019595-3. <a href="978-0-06-019595-3" target="_blank">978-0-06-019595-3</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Great Britain". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-10-01. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100528131641/http://www.theshipslist.com/pictures/Greatbritain.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100528131641/http://www.theshipslist.com/pictures/Greatbritain.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Copley Medal | British scientific award". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 22 July 2020. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Copley-Medal" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/science/Copley-Medal</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Obituaries". The Fort Wayne Sentinel. Vol. 67, no. 81. 22 March 1845. <a href="/wiki/The_News-Sentinel" target="_blank">/wiki/The_News-Sentinel</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>