Eupraxsophy

Robert G. Edwards, pioneer of in-vitro fertilization, passed away on April 10 at the age of 87. The British physiologist, in collaboration with obstetrician and gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe (who died in 1988), successfully pioneered conception through IVF, which led to the birth of the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, on July 25, 1978. For this he was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

As of today, over 4 million babies have been born through IVF. Louise Browns had said that “his work, along with Patrick Steptoe, has brought happiness and joy to millions of people all over the world by enabling them to have children.” His work was motivated by his belief that “the most important thing in life is having a child.”

Watch a video portrait of his life and achievement here. 

Few people outside of Australia know about James Harrison, but he is likely responsible for saving over a million lives. Born in 1936, he underwent major chest surgery at the age of 13 that required a critical blood transfusion. Realizing the importance of blood donations, he made a pledge to donate regularly once he turned 18 (the required age at the time. He started donating in 1954, and after the first few donations, it was discovered that his blood contained a very rare antibody, which prevents infants who receive his blood plasma from dying of Rhesus disease, a form of the hemolytic disease of the newborn.

The research based on his donations created a vital vaccine, and his blood plasma has since been given as treatment to 10% of pregnant women whose blood is not compatible with that of their children. Since blood plasma can be donated as often as every 2-3 days, he was able to reach his 1000th donation in May 2011 — meaning an average of one donation every three weeks during 57 years. His donations have helped to save over 2.4 million babies — including his own daughter Tracey.

Happy 540th Birthday to Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543). 

A name well-known to students across the western world, Copernicus was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a comprehensive heliocentric model, which as opposed to the prevailing geocentric model of the time, placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center of the universe. The model was also one of the first to describe the system’s mechanics in mathematical terms. 

Just before his death, Copernicus published is magnum opus, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), which is considered a major event in the history of science. It began the Copernican Revolution and contributed importantly to the subsequent emergence of the Scientific Revolution. 

In addition to his achievements in mathematics and astronomy, Copernicus was one of the great polymaths of the Renaissance — he was quadrilingual, a jurist with a doctorate in law, physician, classics scholar, translator, artist, Catholic priest, governor, diplomat and economist.

Rochelle Ballantyne, 17, of Brooklyn is taking the chess world by storm. She is on the verge of becoming the first African-American female chess master and her journey has been documented in the film, Brooklyn Castle. Brooklyn Castle tells the stories of five members of the chess team at I.S. 318 middle school in Brooklyn. 

Ballantyne, currently a senior in high school, also spoke of the budget cuts happening at I.S. 318, which would eliminate the chess program. “Kids have achieved so much because of the chess program at I.S. 318, and now because of budget cuts, that program might not be there anymore, and that’s really horrible,” she said. “It’s so sad that you can take out money from schools because education is what allows you to succeed in life. My brother goes to I.S. 318 now, and the chess team might not be able to go to nationals. When people watch the movie, I want them to see how important the school is to all of us, and how it molded our lives. We have to pave the way so that other kids can achieve what we’ve achieved.” When asked about her educational goals, she has her mind-set on an Ivy League education. “ I really want to go to the University of Pennsylvania or Stanford. I applied through QuestBridge, which is a scholarship program that has a partnership with those schools.”

This November, Ballantyne, has her focus on the 2012 World Youth Chess Championships to be held in Maribor, Slovenia from November 7-19.

(via stringsdafistmcgee)

Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese diplomat who during WWII defied his own government and issued Portuguese visas free of charge to over 30,000 refugees seeking to escape the Nazis (Portugal was officially neutral at the time). For this he was fired, denied a pension, and denounced by his government, friends, and colleagues. He died in disgrace and poverty in 1954, but never regretted his decision.

This is Jay Bradner. In 2010, he made a remarkable discovery: a molecule in mice that turned cancer cells into normal cells. But what was more amazing was what he did with this breakthrough finding: instead of patenting it, which would have limited access to this vital discovery, he freely published the details of his research and sent samples to labs all around the world. He gave up a possible fortune in order to advance scientific research and bring us one step closer to hopefully curing this disease. He felt his decision was “the more efficient way to do science - and maybe the more honorable way,” and hopes that it inspires others to do the same in the name of improving both science and the human condition. 

Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess grandmaster, and a former Women’s World Chess Champion. 

Chen Guangcheng, whose given name means “Light, Truth,” has become a powerful symbol of a common man standing up to the state. The following collection of Chen images, many widely circulated online, vividly illustrates the powerful emotional reaction his situation elicited from many Chinese netizens. Despite widespread censorship, Chinese Internet users are skilled at evading the controls and expressing themselves with creativity and humor. Since Chen was released from prison and placed under de facto house arrest in 2010, numerous cartoons, drawings, photographs, and other images created by supporters have helped bring his story from rural Shandong province to millions of people in China and around the world.

A blind, humble, and quiet man standing up to one of the most powerful authoritarian regimes in the world. What a contrast of power. This amazing human being was self-taught in law, and stood up for the rights of women and the rural poor in a country where the rule of law is often capricious, if it exists at all.