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Achievements of Key Women in Science

Eunice Foote

Eunice Foote discovered in 1856 that carbon dioxide traps heat, an early clue about the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, her work was ignored, and John Tyndall was credited with similar discoveries years later.

Eunice
Portrait of Eunice Newton Foote by @hejronja.illustration
Date: 15 November 2024 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEunice_Newton_Foote.jpg

Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin's X-ray images were essential in discovering the structure of DNA. However, James Watson and Francis Crick received the majority of the recognition for the discovery.

Rosalind
A picture of Rosalind Franklin working in the lab.

Esther Lederberg

Esther Lederberg contributed significantly to the study of bacteria and genetics, but her husband, Joshua Lederberg, received most of the credit, even winning a Nobel Prize for research she helped develop.

Esther
A picture of Esther Lederberg working in the lab.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem "Aurora Leigh" addressed women's roles and gender equality. However, she wasn't fully appreciated during her time.

Elizabeth
A picture of Elizabeth Barret Browning who wrote the poem Aurora Leigh about women's role in society.

Mary Anning

Mary Anning made significant fossil discoveries, including the first complete skeleton of an ichthyosaurus, but her contributions were often ignored due to her gender.

Elizabeth
A picture of Mary Anning.