Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Mikołaj Kopernik, Jan Heweliusz - probably everyone has heard about them. However, we know much less about the fact that there were also other Polish scientists who changed the world. This applies to such figures as, for example, Ignacy Łukasiewicz, Jan Czochralski or Jan Szczepanik. It turns out that in our history there were explorers that the world owes a lot, however, the memory of them has faded a bit.
Kerosene lamp
Ok. 40 years before the award of the Nobel Prize to Maria Skłodowska-Curie, a pharmacist from Lviv made a discovery of great importance for modern industry. Ignacy Lukasiewicz discovered a way to get kerosene from crude oil. He also invented a kerosene lampwhich revolutionized the world of that time. There was light at last in the streets. The oil industry could also flourish.
Czochralski's method
It is hard to imagine the modern world without the ubiquitous smartphones, computers or television. In all these devices there are microprocessors for the production of which they are used single crystals. These raw materials are sourced the Czochralski method, developed by Jan Czochralski - a Polish scientist who - interestingly enough - did not even have a high school diploma.
Jan Czochralski / photo: Wikimedia CommonsThe discovery happened by accident. While taking notes in the laboratory, he accidentally dipped the tip of his pen into a crucible of molten tin. That's how it was created tin crystal. Jan Czochralski also invented, among others bearingless alloy, runny nose powder and… permanent waving fluid.
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The first TV set
Modern television could have arisen much later, had it not been invented in 1894 telectroscope. This device was developed by Jan Szczepanik. Thanks to this invention, it became possible to transmit a moving image over a distance. The first immortalized film was an abdominal surgery at Langbeck-Virchov Hospital. It happened 30 years before the creation the first monochrome television in 1924.
Jan Szczepanik / photo: Wikimedia CommonsAs it turns out, we owe this device not only to the Polish scientist. He also invented a system of colored weaving, thanks to which it was possible to copy fabric patterns. In association with Kazimierz Żeglenie also developed the first bulletproof vest. He is also involved in the development of a color film and photography, as well as the first sound film.
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The first mini-computer
Who developed the first personal computer? IBM? Microsoft? NASA? None of these things. It turns out that they are contemporaries Polish scientists They were also outstanding, although the realities of the Polish People's Republic made it impossible for them to achieve international success. When computers occupying the entire room still reigned in Poland, Jacek Karpinski in 1969 he developed the world's first mini-computer K-202. What's more - it did it about 10 years faster than its competitors.
Jacek Karpiński / photo: Wikimedia CommonsHis invention was not only developed faster than the first IBM PC. The K-202 was also more efficient and smaller. The English also became interested in the invention investorswho wanted to start serial production. WITH patriotic motives Jacek Karpiński wanted it to take place in Poland. However, the factory investment was blocked by the communist authorities, which preferred the Odra River in 1240. Moreover scientist he was not ideologically convenient - he took part in the Warsaw Uprising and was also a member of the Home Army.
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He stopped the polio virus epidemic
Who has heard of Hilary Koprowski? This Polish scientist died relatively recently, in 2010. It went down in history for inventing the world's first polio vaccine. Thanks to it, it was possible to stop the epidemic of this disease, with which in 1950 about 6 children in Poland fell ill. In 1951 Hilary Koprowski in cooperation with the pharmaceutical company Wyeth, they donated 9 million vaccines, thanks to which it was possible to stop the spread of the polio virus, first in Poland and then in Europe.
Hilary Koprowski / photo Wikimedia CommonsThermonuclear bomb
Today the whole world is trembling at the word hydrogen bomb. Few people know that they also contribute to its development Polish scientists. If it were not for the outstanding Polish mathematician - Stanislaw Ulam - this weapon could never be created. In 1943, he ended up at the Los Aalamos nuclear research facility, where he participated in a covert The Manhattan Project. He proved the erroneous assumption of Edvard Teller with which Stanislaw Ulam later developed the final concept of the hydrogen bomb based on the so-called Teller-Ulam device.
Stanisław Ulam / photo: Wikimedia CommonsHe has also achieved achievements in the field of topology of measure, set, probability and branch theory. His scientific works contributed to the development many areas scientific. He has also served on the advisory team to US President Johnn F. Kennedy, as well as on NASA and Air France committees.
Polish scientists unknown
As you can see, Polish scientists have achieved much more than discovering that the Earth revolves around the sun or the elements polonium and radium. Poles have gone down in history, thanks to whom we can, among others, use smartphones, computers or TV sets. How many of our compatriots do we not know yet? Maybe you want to share this information?
