Google is celebrating Eunice Newton Foote’s birthday with a colorful and interactive graphic drawing of the outstanding scientist.
Today marks what would have been the 204th birthday of the American scientist who dedicated her life to understanding the natural world and pushing the boundaries of science.
The search engine hails her as the first person to discover the greenhouse effect, saying she “planted the seed” of interest in climate change.
His early contributions were “largely ignored” by the predominantly male sphere of scientists at the time and only recognized as “pioneering” a century after presenting them.
But who is Eunice Newton Foote and what were her first discoveries? Here is everything you need to know about the American scientist.
Google is celebrating Eunice Newton Foote’s birthday with a colorful graphic drawing, but who is the American scientist and what did she discover?
Today’s Google Doodle honors the scientist for her discoveries related to climate change, the graphic suggests she was the ‘first to plant a seed of interest’ in the subject.
Who was Eunice Newton Foote?
Eunice Newton Foote was the first to discover the effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 1856, what is now known as the “greenhouse effect”.
She is known for conducting a series of experiments on the relationship between carbon dioxide and the Earth’s temperature.
Foote conducted a series of experiments to investigate the effects of various gases on heat absorption.
Experimenting with bell jars filled with different vapors, he found that glass containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun.
Foote’s findings were extraordinary for their time, as she became the first scientist to make the connection between rising CO2 levels and global warming.
In addition to her contributions to science, Foote was married to a lawyer named Elisha Foote and had two children.
In his article, entitled ‘Circumstances Affecting the Heat of the Sun’s Rays’. she noted: ‘An atmosphere of that gas would give our earth a high temperature; and if, as some suppose, at a period in its history, air had mixed with it to a greater extent than at present, an increase in temperature must necessarily have resulted from its own action, as well as from the increase in weight. .
The paper was submitted by a male colleague due to gender bias in 1856, he introduced the paper stating: ‘Science was of neither country nor sex. The sphere of the woman encompasses not only the beautiful and the useful, but also the true.
After publishing his findings, Foote conducted a second study on atmospheric static electricity, which was published in the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
These were the first two physics studies published by a woman in the United States.
Although Foote’s work was overlooked during his lifetime, his legacy has been revisited in recent years, and scientists have recognized its rightful place in the history of climate science.
When did Eunice Newton Foote die?
Born in 1819, Eunice Newton Foote lived a long life, dying around September 30, 1888, in Lenox, Massachusetts. She was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
His father, Isaac Newton Jr., a farmer and businessman, was distantly related to the scientist Isaac Newton, who discovered gravity.
Aside from her passion for science, Foote was also an advocate for women’s rights. Teaming up with prominent activists like Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she campaigned for women’s suffrage.
In addition to her scientific contributions, Foote was also an advocate for women’s rights and was one of the first people to sign the Declaration of Sentiments, which called for equal rights.
She attended the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the first women’s rights convention, and was the fifth signatory to the Declaration of Sentiments, a document signed in 1848 by 68 women and 38 men demanding equality for women.
Today, she leaves a legacy for future generations of scientists, especially women, with many continuing her work in hopes of understanding climate change.
What is a Google Doodle?
A Google Doodle is a logo override on the Google home page often used to highlight historical events, world issues, and celebrations around the world.
Today’s colorful logo honors Eunice Newton Foote and is paired with an interactive slideshow that allows users to click on the illustrations to understand Foote’s discovery.
By honoring Eunice Newton Foote, Google recognizes the scientist as a pioneer in her field of study.
