7 Important Scientific Discoveries Made by Females

For centuries, men have been the face of science. They were the thinkers and innovators who pushed humanity forward with their discoveries. This is true for many reasons, but one that stands out is that women weren’t given a chance to make significant scientific contributions. More opportunities and resources have become available to women in recent years, as evidenced by the creation of laboratories, which have given them a platform to demonstrate their scientific abilities.

1- Dr. Caroline Wiik’s Discovery of the First Exoplanet In 1999

Dr. Caroline Wiik was part of a team that discovered the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star in 1999. This groundbreaking discovery proved that planets existed beyond our solar system, and it kickstarted the search for other worlds that might have the conditions to support life.

2- Dr. Yvonne Brill’s Invention of a Propulsion System for Communications Satellites in the Early 1970s

Dr. Yvonne Brill was responsible for several breakthroughs in rocket propulsion, including the design of a propellant-efficient engine which made it possible for communication satellites to remain in orbit for an extended period. These rockets later became a standard component of space flight and have been used on nearly all spacecraft since the 1970s.

3- Margaret Oakley Dayhoff’s Proposal that Biological Evolution was Best Described by Her “Phylogenetic Classification” System

In 1965, astronomer Margaret Oakley Dayhoff proposed that biological evolution was best described by her “phylogenetic” system, the standard method of classifying life on earth. These complex diagrams explain how different species are related to each other through various branches of the evolutionary tree.

4- Dame Stephanie Shirley’s Invention of a Computer Program that Could Be Used to Generate Random Numbers in the 1960s

Dame Stephanie Shirley was a computer scientist who invented a computer program that could be used to generate random numbers in the 1960s. This program is still used today for various purposes, including cryptography and statistical analysis.

5- Maryam Mirzakhani’s Proof of the “Theorem of Finite Vertex Cover” in 2014

In 2014, mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the first female winner of the Fields Medal, which is considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in mathematics. Her most famous accomplishment is her proof of “Theorem of Finite Vertex Cover,” which unlocks the door to solving many complex problems in dynamics and geometry.

6- Margaret Hamilton’s Invention of a Program that Allowed NASA Astronauts to Communicate from Space with People on Earth in 1969

In 1969, computer scientist Margaret Hamilton invented a programming language that allowed NASA astronauts to communicate from space with people on earth. This system was critical during the Apollo missions and used in all subsequent space programs.

7- Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s Discovery of Pulsars in 1967

In 1967, astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered pulsars – a new star that emits regular pulses of radio waves. Although this discovery was made by accident, scientists later used them to study many other types of phenomena in space.

Women have been making important scientific discoveries for centuries, but they were often overlooked and not given the recognition that their male counterparts received. However, in recent years, there has been a shift in how we view females and STEM careers, leading to an increase of women-led breakthroughs with more on the horizon. The seven examples listed above are just some of many female contributions to science over the last few decades; let’s hope this trend continues so we can see what else these brilliant minds come up with!

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