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Tyndall's First Scientific Research "Diamagnetism" 1850
Tyndall completed his PhD at the University of Marburg in 1850, and started his first period of research challenging Faraday on the phenomenon of diamagnetism. Using a model of diamagnetic polarity and magnetic forces acting in couples. Tyndall went on to publish six major papers on diamagnetism. Tyndall stated "Faraday gave the name of the diamagnetism to the effect of repulsion by a single pole." -
Greenhouse Effect 1859
Tyndall showed gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor can absorb heat emanating from the Earth's surface. Today we call this infrared radiation. Tyndall stated "Thus the atmosphere admits of the entrance of the solar heat; but checks its exit, and the result is a tendency to accumulate heat at the surface of the planet." He found that changes in the amount of water vapor or carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could change the climate. His work set the foundation for understanding climate change. -
The "Tyndall effect" January 1860
The "Tyndall effect" became Tyndall's most important and major work. Tyndall explained the scattering of light and the blue color of the sky. The blue color of the sky is due to the scattering of light by particles and dust and other colloidal particles. He found that the scattering of light depends on the frequency of the light and the density of the particles. He also found that blue light is scattered more strongly than red light. -
Spontaneous Generation Expierements 1876
John Tyndall helped to disprove spontaneous generation by showing food does not decay in germ free air. Tyndall found that no organisms were produced when pure air was introduced into a medium capable of supporting the growth of microorganisms. With Tyndall's work in conjunction with Pasteur's findings, it put an end to spontaneous generation. -
Contribution to the Philosophy of Science
When thinking about Tyndall's work I believe he was able to form a theory and put forth the correct observations to prove his theories. He was not scared to challenge theories from fellow scientist and to find the correct evidence to prove them false and show how his new theory was more reliable. He took the definition of science and proved it to it's full capability and was able to test the limits of what others may have believed, opening the door to new discoveries.