The best VPN deal for online freedom
WebRef.org: odd things found in strange places.
-
Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865) was a Hungarian physician and pioneer in the field of antiseptic procedures. He is best known for his work in advocating hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, particularly puerperal fever, also known as “childbed fever,” in maternity wards. Semmelweis was born on July 1, 1818, in Buda, Hungary (now…
-
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells (1862–1931) was an African American journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement. She was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and became a prominent anti-lynching crusader, suffragist, and advocate for racial and gender equality. Here are some key aspects of Ida B. Wells’s life…
-
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. He played a significant role in various civil rights and social justice initiatives, yet his contributions were often overshadowed due to societal attitudes towards his identity as an openly gay man during a time when homosexuality was…
-
Vasili Arkhipov
Vasili Arkhipov (1926–1998) was a Soviet naval officer who played a critical role in preventing the escalation of the Cuban Missile Crisis into a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war as the United…
-
Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951) was an African American woman whose cells were taken without her knowledge or consent and used for scientific research. Her cells, known as HeLa cells, became one of the most important tools in medicine and biological research. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore,…
-
Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000) was an Austrian-American actress and inventor. Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914, in Vienna, Austria, she became a Hollywood star in the 1930s and 1940s, known for her beauty and talent. Lamarr appeared in numerous films, including “Algiers” (1938) and “Samson and Delilah” (1949). Beyond her successful acting career,…
-
Alan Turing
Alan Turing (1912–1954) was a British mathematician, logician, and computer scientist who is often regarded as one of the fathers of modern computer science. Born on June 23, 1912, in Maida Vale, London, Turing made significant contributions to various fields, including mathematics, logic, cryptography, and artificial intelligence. Here are some key aspects of Alan Turing’s…
-
Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. She was born on July 25, 1920, in London, England. Franklin’s work on X-ray diffraction images of DNA played a crucial role in the discovery of the…
-
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who made significant contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems. Born on July 10, 1856, in what is now Croatia, Tesla immigrated to the United States in 1884 and became a naturalized citizen in 1891. Some of Tesla’s notable…
-
scandium aluminum nitride
Scandium aluminum nitride (ScAlN) is a material composed of scandium (Sc), aluminum (Al), and nitrogen (N). It belongs to the family of III-nitride semiconductors, which includes materials like gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN). Scandium aluminum nitride is a relatively new material that has gained attention for its potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics…
Got any strange references to share?