Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel were contemporaries, but did they know of each other’s work? There is clear evidence that Mendel read “The Origin of Species,” and mounting evidence that Darwin had heard of Mendel’s work. The respective places of these two men...
The name of Gregor Mendel is inescapably linked to “genetics.” Known as the “father of genetics,” what is less known is that he raised bees, recorded meteorological data, and tracked the appearance of sunspots! Mendel was also a priest, a teacher, and an abbot. Early...
Since its founding in 1972, the Templeton Prize has honored 17 scientists, 7 opinion leaders, 16 religious leaders, and 7 theologians/philosophers. This year’s recipient is research scientist, Dr. Francis Collins, MD, Ph.D. He is the current Director of the National...
David H. Levy’s bio on the Vatican Observatory website declares that he is “one of the most successful comet discoverers in history.” This is no idle boast. It continues: “He has discovered 22 comets, nine of them using his own backyard telescopes. With Eugene and...
Most of us assume that all great scientists are products of formal education. However, there are many examples in the history of science where this is not the case: James Croll, Humphrey Davy, and Michael Faraday are instructive examples. James Croll (1821-1890) James...
Is atheism inconsistent with the scientific method? A prize winning physicist’s answer may surprise you. This year’s winner of the Templeton Prize is Marcelo Gleiser, theoretical physicist and cosmologist at Dartmouth College. The Templeton Prize is awarded each year...
