Download Sasha and Manuel : THE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES IN THE

Sasha and Manuel : THE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES IN THE VICTORIAN AGE
Charles Robert Darwin:
Was born in Shrewsbery in 1809. He was a naturalist biologist famous for his theory
of the evolution of species by means of natural selection.
In 1859 he published his theory in a book called “On the Origin of Species”.
He found most of information during a voyage around the world,in particular when
he visited the Islands Galapagos.
The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection:
In this book Darwin explains his theory. He says that the different animals are in
competition for the natural resources; in this competition Nature makes a selection
and chooses the strongest animals of a specie to transmit the genetic characters.
Darwin also says that natural selection could create a new species.
Inventions and new technologies:
The 19th century was the age of machine tools - tools that made tools - machines
that made parts for other machines, including interchangeable parts.
The invention of useable electricity, steel, and petroleum products during the 19th
century lead to a second industrial revolution (1865–1900), that featured the
growth of railways and steam ships, faster and wider means of communication, and
inventions with names we all know today.
An important invention is the bicycle:
The Draisienne was the first human means of transport to use only two in-line
wheels in tandem and was invented by the German BaronKarl von Drais.
Further innovations increased comfort and ushered in a second bicycle craze, the
1890s' Golden Age of Bicycles.Than John Boyd Dunlop introduced the first practical
pneumatic tire, which soon became universal.
With the invention of the steam engine it was the beginning of a new era.
The production of new railways, cars and undergrounds started
It meant new ways for the world trade and a strong improvement of the
communication.
Meanwhile there were other important inventions. For example, the first railway
telegraph, invented by Charles Wheatstone, the discovery of the lowest possible
temperature (the absolute zero), by Lord Kelvin in 1848. Then the telephone, the
electric light bulb, etc.
Positivism refers to a set of perspectives and philosophies of science which hold
that the scientific method is the best approach to uncovering the processes by
which both physical and human events occur. The concept was developed in the
early 19th century by the philosopher and founding sociologist, Auguste Comte,
known as the philosophical founder of sociology and of positivism. His ideas
influenced John Stuart Mill (who supported him financially for many years).
Positivism asserts that the only authentic knowledge is that which is based on sense,
experience and positive verification. As an approach to the philosophy of science
deriving from Enlightenment thinkers such as Henri de Saint-Simon and PierreSimon Laplace, Auguste Comte saw the scientific method as replacing metaphysics
in the history of thought, observing the circular dependence of theory and
observation in science.
The first medical discovery is Ether, used as an anaesthetic.
A Dentist named William Morton started using Ether as anaesthetics and it became
common in the medical profession. Than in 1874 doctors favoured Chloroform
because it is less flammable than Ether, but as a side effect could cause heart attack.
Anaesthetics made painless dentistry possible, because the use of sugar became
more widespread, so people were having teeth pulled and needed replacements.
In 1876 were introduced antiseptics by Joseph Lister in 1867 in the form of Carbolic
acid (phenol). Shortly afterwards he instructed the hospital staff to wear gloves and
wash their hands, instruments, and dressings with a phenol solution before the
surgery.
Another discovery is the cowpox vaccine by Edward Jenner.