October 21
Are You Sure ...
• ... that mathematician and academic Wacław Sierpiński made important contributions to set theory (notably his research on the axiom of choice and the continuum hypothesis), number theory, theory of functions, and topology?
On This Day in History and Fiction
1687: Mathematician and theorist Nicolaus I Bernoulli born. Bernoulli will introduce a successful resolution to the St. Petersburg paradox.
1914: Mathematics and science writer Martin Gardner born. His interests will include stage magic, scientific skepticism, philosophy, religion, and literature.
- André Jagendorf
1926: Botanist and academic André Jagendorf born. Jagendorf provided direct evidence that chloroplasts synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using the chemiosmotic mechanism proposed by Peter Mitchell.
1958: National Pareidolia Day declared in the United States.
1969: Mathematician and academic Wacław Sierpiński dies. He made important contributions to set theory (research on the axiom of choice and the continuum hypothesis), number theory, theory of functions, and topology.