1. Norbert Wiener (26 November 1894)
· Norbert Wiener was an American mathematician and philosopher who is often credited as the founder of cybernetics, the interdisciplinary science of control and communication in machines and living beings.
· A child prodigy, he completed his B.A. in mathematics at Tufts university at the age of 14, and earned a Ph.D. from Harvard university by age 18
· His work during World war II on predicting the motion of enemy aircraft led to key developments in filtering theory and control systems.
· In 1948, Wiener published his seminal book Cybernetics: Or, Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine, which established ideas of feedback, self-regulating systems, and the parallels between human brain functions and machines.
· He was also concerned about the social and ethical implications of technology, especially automation.
· Wiener received the National Medal of Science in 1963, shortly before his death in 1964.
2. Karl Ziegler (26 November 1898)
· Karl Ziegler was a German chemist who made foundational contributions to polymer chemistry.
· He shared the 1963 Nobel prize in Chemistry with Giulio Natta for developing catalysts (now known as Ziegler–Natta catalysts) that enabled the industrial-scale synthesis of polymers like high-density polyethylene.
· Ziegler’s research on organometallic compounds, especially with aluminum, allowed more controlled polymerization, producing more stable and higher-quality plastics.
· He held key academic and research positions, including director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research.
· Beyond his scientific work, Ziegler was also influential in rebuilding chemical research in post-war germany and was deeply committed to both pure research and industrial applications.
3. john Alexander Reina Newlands (26 November 1837).jpg)
· john A. R. Newlands was an english chemist who played a pioneering role in the development of the periodic table of elements.
· He introduced the “Law of Octaves”, observing that when elements are arranged by atomic weight, every eighth element had similar chemical properties — an early insight into chemical periodicity.
· Though his ideas were initially controversial, Newlands’ work was important in the historical development of the periodic classification of elements.
Why These Scientists Are Significant
· Norbert Wiener: His founding of cybernetics laid the groundwork for modern systems theory, artificial intelligence, control systems, robotics, and communication theory.
· Karl Ziegler: His catalyst discoveries revolutionized polymer chemistry, making it possible to produce strong, economical plastics that are now ubiquitous in daily life.
· John Newlands: He was one of the early thinkers who recognized patterns among elements, helping advance the concept of a periodic table that would be refined by later scientists.
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