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Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1852
Tyndall's early original work in physics was his experiments on magnetism and diamagnetic polarity, on which he worked from 1850 to 1856. His two most influential reports were the first two, co-authored with Knoblauch. One of them was entitled "The magneto-optic properties of crystals, and the relation of magnetism and diamagnetism to molecular arrangement", dated May 1850. These and other magnetic investigations very soon made Tyndall known among the leading scientists of the day. -
Developed differential absorption spectroscopy
In the spring of 1859, Tyndall began research into how thermal radiation, both visible and obscure, affects different gases and aerosols. He developed differential absorption spectroscopy using the electro-magnetic thermopile devised by Melloni.
On 10 June, he demonstrated the research in a Royal Society lecture, noting that coal gas and ether strongly absorbed radiant heat, and his experimental confirmation of the (greenhouse effect) concept. -
Tyndall was an Educator and Lecturer.
Besides being a scientist, John Tyndall was a science teacher and evangelist for the cause of science. He spent a significant amount of his time disseminating science to the general public. He gave hundreds of public lectures to non-specialist audiences at the Royal Institution in London. When he went on a public lecture tour in the USA in 1872, large crowds of non-scientists paid fees to hear him lecture about the nature of light. -
Invented the process known as Tyndallization.
Tyndallization is a process dating from the nineteenth century for sterilizing substances, usually food, named after its inventor, scientist John Tyndall, that can be used to kill heat-resistant endospores. Although considered old-fashioned, it is still occasionally used. I couldn't find a specific date that he had created this process but I still felt it was important enough to merit mention. Love it when something is made in the "1900's". -
Tyndall's Experiments on Resonance - Christmas Lectures with Charles Taylor
https://youtu.be/agFBsON_Fpc Here is a lecture I found on one of Tyndall's actual lectures. It's really interesting seeing it play out and then comparing to the actual lecture notes of Tyndall himself when he performed the same lecture. Anyways, enjoy the video! -
John Tyndall: The Physicist Who Proved the Greenhouse Effect - with Paul Hurley
https://youtu.be/1thc8JDgfXo
This is a comprehensive video on the contributions made by John Tyndall during his time spent with The Royal Institution. -
Sources
Eve, A.S.; Creasey, C.H. (1945). Life and Work of John Tyndall. London: Macmillan. 430 pages.
Tyndall, John (31 December 1860). "VII. Note on the transmission of radiant heat through gaseous bodies". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. The Royal Society. 10: 37–39. Received May 26, 1859
Tyndall, John (31 December 1861). "I. The Bakerian Lecture.—On the Absorption and Radiation of Heat...". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London The Royal Society. 151: 1–36
