Groundbreaking Scientific Experiments, Inventions, and Discoveries of the 17th Century

I would like to recognize the invaluable assistance of several individuals who made this volume possible. First, I would like to thank Dr. Robert Krebs, who, as the editor for this series, provided invaluable assistance and guidance in the preparation of this volume. Next, I would like to thank Rae Dejur and Sandra Windelspecht for the design of the graphics used in this volume. Both of these individuals not only endured constant revisions, but also provided useful discussions on the artwork found within this work. Additional artwork was made available from the collections at the Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine, the National Space Science Data Center, and NASA. I wish to also thank my wife, Sandra, and my family and friends for their assistance and support.

Finally, I would like to thank Greenwood Publishing for recognizing the importance of this series. Science is not a modern creation; it is a culmination of centuries of dedicated work by countless scientists and mathematicians. To truly understand where science and technology is heading in the future, it is necessary not only to educate people on the rich history of science, but also to understand the thoughts of those who provided the foundations of our modern world.

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