“We are on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”
. Professor Stephen Hawking
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Some inventions require in their process to become collective, like the invention of photography. One of those is the invention of the telescope. It has enabled us to discover our place in the universe and to reveal the mysteries and sheer scale of deep space. From time immemorial, our eyes were drawn intuitively to the sky at night even before the Egyptians made the stars and their constellations an integral part of their life and afterlife.
Many other ancient civilisations were compelled to build complex temples using their celestial knowledge. On every part of the globe, early inhabitants worshipped the Sun, the life-giver.
Nobody is quite sure who was the first to construct a practical telescope or whose genius was the first to realise the potential of this device, until :
HANS LIPPERSHEY
1570 – September 1619
Dutch lens maker Hans Lippershey was the first to apply for a patent, in 1608. He was born in Wesel, Germany, and moved to Middleburg, in the Netherlands (then the Dutch Republic), in 1594. In the same year, he married, became a Dutch citizen, and opened a spectacle shop in the city. Little is known of his life, but what is clear is that he was the first person to apply for a patent for the telescope, which was called a ‘kijker’ (Dutch for ‘viewer’).
In September 1608, Lippershey travelled to The Hague, the political centre of the Dutch Republic, where he filed the patent application for his device. His application was denied because of the simplicity of the invention – it was really just two lenses held at a certain distance apart in a tube. However, the officials at The Hague saw the potential of Lippershey’s instrument and commissioned him to build three sets of double-telescope (i.e. binoculars).
The Hague, Netherlands

The Dutch State General paid Lippershey handsomely for his work: he received more than enough to buy the next house to his and pay to have major renovation work carried out. In his workshop, above, Hans Lippershey experimented with lenses during his invention of the telescope. The eyepiece lens magnifies the image produced by the larger, objective lens. The lens grinding machines and lathes are powered by treadles beneath the benches. He would have used a slightly different machine to make the larger, convex lens that collects the light (the objective lens).
Lippershey’s early telescope
As it turned out, The State General was probably justified in refusing Lippershey a patent. Within a few weeks, another Dutch spectacle maker, Jacob Metius (1571-1630), submitted a very similar application. In 1620, yet another retrospective claim for the primacy of the invention of the telescope came to light. Zacharius Janssen (1580-1638), whose house was a few doors away from Lipperhey’s may have beaten Lippershey to it.
The earliest drawing of a telescope is a sketch in a letter by Italian scholar Giambattista della Porta (1535-1615) in 1609. Della Porta later claimed he had invented the telescope years before Lippershey, but he died before he could provide evidence of his claim. In fact, it is likely that long before Lippershey many lens makers had held two lenses in the right configuration and seen a slightly magnified image, but not realised its potential.
Any uncertainty in the story of the telescope falls away in 1609, when other people heard about the new instrument, made their own, and used it for a novel and world-changing purpose: gazing at the night sky.
The first person to note that he had gazed upward in this way was an English astronomer and mathematician Thomas Harriot (1560-1621), who made a sketch of the moon as seen through his telescope in July 26,1609.
Most famously Galileo Galilei (1564-1542) did the same, and much more, four months later. He published his monumental findings in his book Sidereus Nuncius ( The Starry Messenger) in 1610. Although Lippershey was by all accounts a gifted craftsman and was the first to submit a patent application for the telescope. Galileo Galilei is the real Genius in this story. His careful and thorough observation of the moon and his discovery and observation of the moons of Jupiter were key in overturning the longstanding, dogmatic theory that the earth is the centre of the Universe.
Galileo improved the basic telescope design and by August 1609, had managed to make his own instrument with a magnification of 8x compared to Lippershey’s instrument which could only magnify 3x. In the 1620s, he became one of the first to make biological observations with microscopes.
Above are Galileo’s Telescopes from the Museum of the History of Science in Florence
Galileo was a great thinker and is often called the father of physics or even the father of modern science. He was much more a pure scientist than an inventor, and although he did invent the thermometer and the geometrical compass, he did not actually invent the telescope.
Hans Lippershey is often also credited with the invention of the microscope, or to be more precise, the compound microscope (consisting of two or more lenses, rather than one). Here again, Zaccharius Janssen probably invented the device at the same time as, if not before, Lippershey. There is no patent for the microscope because it was inevitable that at some point, someone would arrange two lenses in the right way to make things look bigger.
Lippershey’s and Jenssen’s home city of Middleburg was famous for its spectacle makers, thanks to its supply of fine-quality, bubble-free glass and to a superior lens-grinding technique developed in the city. Working with high-quality glass was a novelty in Northern Europe in the seventeenth century, the secret of its manufacture had been exported from Italy, which had had a monopoly on fine-quality glass since the thirteenth century. All of those lens grinders of Middleburg and the Italian glassmakers of the thirteenth century deserve credit for these wonderful, world-changing inventions.
NASA launch of Parker Solar Probe
On 12th August 2018, Nasa sent the Parker Solar Probe on a mission into space to be the first to ‘touch’ the sun. Like many people around the globe, I followed their work with great anticipation. I am not joking when I insist that I cannot die before any discovery of previous life on Mars would be confirmed. When some time ago, there was news of the discovery of possible traces of water on the Red Planet, I exclaimed spontaneously: ‘Motherland!’, which I have to admit sounds ridiculous. And yet, the miracle of life on our planet has fascinated humans for thousands of years.
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in orbit above Earth’s atmosphere has a concave mirror rather than an objective lens, to gather light. A camera inside takes pictures using that light, producing incredible clear images of a wide range of astronomical objects. The Hubble Space Telescope is named in honour of Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer who, among other things, determined that the universe extended beyond the borders of the Milky Way. Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided a dazzling array of images that have awed and inspired the public. It provided insight into the universe, from objects as close as the Moon to the most remote galaxies, with incredible photos of supernovae and nebulous in between.
If you were to put an arrow to the little point between the two rings to the right, that’s where we are. As far as the universe is concerned, we as humans don’t exist.
It is amazing what today’s telescopes can do. One example is the images acquired by an amateur astronomer and university lecturer Russell Discombe using the telescope in his garden.
Russell Discombe and his telescope
The Elephant Trunk Nebula in Cepheus, roughly 2,400 light-years away from Earth, image below
The Heart Nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, around 7,500 light-years away from Earth, image below
I have chosen the next inventor not only because he was a founder of antiseptic medicine and a pioneer in preventive medicine, so apt in time of pandemic and today’s mantra ‘wash your hands’, but because of his conviction that patients’ welfare is of utmost importance. As my father, a surgeon, also passionately believed that being a doctor is a vocation and not a business, and would go to unprecedented lengths to help disabled children, and the poor, I am dedicating this post to Him.
JOSEPH LISTER
5 April 1827 – 10 February 1912
Until the late nineteenth century, patients undergoing even minor surgery had about as much chance of dying afterwards as they did of surviving. English surgeon Joseph Lister dramatically improved patients’ chances in the 1870s, by introducing antiseptics into surgery.
Joseph Lister was born in Upton, in Essex, England, to a wealthy Quaker family. The Religious Society of Friends – Quakers, was founded in the 17th century. They are pacifists with the belief that the presence of God exists in every person. His father was a man of science, who made significant improvements to microscope design. Joseph studied the arts and then medicine at University College, London, and at Oxford. Although born and educated in England, he spent most of his career in Scotland. In 1836, Lister became an assistant surgeon at Glasgow University Medical School. In 1861, Lister was put in charge of a new building with surgical wards at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. At the time, around half of the patients died as a result of the surgery – open wounds often festered, becoming badly infected, inflamed, and full of pus. Untreated, this ‘wound sepsis’ was life-threatening. The prevailing explanation of infection was the so-called ‘miasma theory’: the idea that polluted air was the cause of disease. In the filthy air of the disease-ridden cities of the nineteenth century, this was an easy connection to make. Because of this belief, surgeons carried out operations without washing their hands and surgical wards were not clean.
Surgical ward at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Below are nineteenth century slums in Glasgow
In 1865, Lister read a report by the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) suggesting that fermentation and rotting are caused by airborne micro-organisms. Pasteur also showed how micro-organisms can be killed by heat, filtration, or chemical attack. When Lister heard of Pasteur’s work, he realised that airborne micro-organisms might be causing wounds to turn septic. He heard that carbolic acid (phenol) had been used to stop sewage from smelling bad, and had also been sprayed onto fields, where it reduced the incidence of disease in cows.
Louis Pasteur
And so, he and his surgeons began applying carbolic acid solution to wounds and using dressings that had been soaked in the same solution. In 1869, he developed a spray that would fill the air with carbolic acid, aiming to kill airborne germs. Lister also told his surgeons to wash their hands before and after operations and to wash their surgical instruments in carbolic acid solution. His results were impressive: his surgical wards remained free of sepsis and the death rate fell from 50% to 15%.
Other surgeons were slow to copy Lister’s procedures, largely because many were reluctant to accept the idea that disease can be caused by micro-organisms. When gradually, surgeons did begin using his technique, post-operative survival rates increased dramatically. It was after surgeons in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 – 1871 used Lister’s methods, saving the lives of many wounded soldiers, that Lister’s fame spread across Europe, and he began to receive the recognition he deserved.
Lister’s medals
In 1877, Lister moved back to King’s College, London, where he managed to convince many of the still-sceptical surgeons by successfully performing a complex knee operation that had nearly always proved fatal. He continued to experiment tirelessly on improving surgical techniques and reducing mortality until his retirement in 1893.
The Lister memorial in Portland Place, London
Although Lister is famous for his antiseptic methods, he also worked on ‘aseptic’ ones, attempting to keep operating theatres free from germs rather than killing them. Lister’s pioneering investigation into wound sepsis, his application of the germ theory of disease, and his success in dramatically reducing mortality make his contribution to surgery and patients’ wellbeing of the utmost importance.
Joseph Lister’s funeral procession
Wow. I just knew Galileo to be the inventor of telescope. I never wait to read the story behind the invention. This post is so informative and shows the efforts you have taken to collect all the information, making it an interesting read.
Knowing about the invention of antiseptic is something definitely new, atleast for me. Ny kid enjoyed reading this too. Thanks Joanna. Please know that your efforts are appreciated.
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Thank you, Ramaya, I have pressed the wrong button and published it today, not tomorrow. I am happy that you and your family liked the post. It makes the effort of researching worthwhile.
The larger photograph then normally showed what a beautiful woman you are.
Thank you again.
Joanna
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I am amazed by the time i end reading your articles and the goldmine of findings you unearth. Starting at something that builds and carries plethora of details and knowledge that builds and builds, and at one point soothes down like a river entering the plains, ‘you come up with some brilliant century old images, and it all ends at an uncertain stop. Beautiful dearest Joanna.
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Thank you so much, Narayan, you are so very kind. I do appreciate what you say especially because it comes from the Master of his craft.
Joanna
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But at the same time, i would like to bring to your knowledge, about the world knowing just too little about us Indians and the knowledge of our Yogic seers/saints had of the universe. Yog is world’s most important, first and oldest human invention for our own health, body and mind.
You can imagine or may be not how old it could be. We certainly have no idea- there are stories, and they are beautiful stories of men who one after other carried this information, sitting, meditating along the rivers of the mighty Himalayas.
Not just hundreds but thousands of years ago when Egyptians, Babylonians were only understanding zero, we had not only discovered stars but established that the earth was round and revolved around the sun god, long before when great scientists, philosophers like Galileo were being hounded by the church of saying the same out loud 🙂
I will be very happy if one day you decide to include one of these ancient topics in your insightful, diamond of a blog dedicated to extraordinary tales of nature.
Love, Nara
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I will be more than happy to do anything that you suggest, Narayan, we can talk about privately
later.
Love,
Joanna
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What a wonderful post! What you are writing about is really to do with ‘vision’, something we lack at the moment. Thanks, Joanna for this marvellous series! Happy Sunday!
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Dear Ashley, thank you so much for your kind review. And of course, you are so right.
Thank you again.
Joanna
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I am only learning my dear Joanna. Just trying to work and express however i am able to this way. Love.
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I like the way you use humor with some hardcore scientific facts. Makes for an interesting read. 👌👍
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Well observed. Thank you very much. Greatly appreciated. This Saturday I am publishing one that in some parts touched my heart, and I wept for the inventor,
Joanna
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Well observed. Thank you. Greatly appreciated. This Saturday I am publishing the post which in some parts moved me to tears. but it is interesting.
Joanna
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Thank you again.
Joanna
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Will look forward to it👍
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So insightful. Like another comment said, you write with a certain vision that is wonderful to read. Greatly researched.
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Thank you, Shanyu, I really appreciate your kind words. Just wait when you read soon about India, it will amaze you what a wonderful country it is.
Joanna
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You are welcome Joanna. It’s a pleasure to write to you.
India is a beautiful country that is rich in culture and heritage. I cannot wait to read your insights about it.
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Thank you, Shanyu, you won’t be disappointed.
Joanna
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I just love to read your posts, every time you come with an interesting and knowledgeable topic. Waiting for more Mam.
https://swarnaz.com/
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Thank you so much, Swarnali. It is so very kind to say so. In 3 weeks I will be writing about the wonderful country, India, you will find this post especially interesting. However young you are, Swarnali, you can call me by my name.
Joanna
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Thank you again.
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I’ve always been fascinated by Astronomy! This was a gem of a post! Reading about Hans Lippershey’s telescope was a truly enlightening experience. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you very much. This Saturday there is something about reading, you will like it. You are very kind, and I think, we are going to be friends.
Joanna
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Thank you again.
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Yes, you mentioned that before. My pleasure!
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What a great post!👏❤ You make me wish that my school had History as a subject😢💕
Thanks for sharing, your findings are always fun to read💡❤
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Nothing is lost if you like reading. Biographies, science books, classics, and all immortal in their greatness writers. When I finish in two weeks time discovery series and after a special edition on India – Empire of the Spirit, I will write about all great writers and their work.
I amassed 10,000 + books, and that is why the posts are read in almost all countries in the world. Almost.
Joanna
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A treasure of scientific stories to absorb…
The Universe!…maybe a trillion Galaxies…100s of billions of Solar Systems in each Galaxies…and billions more planets, moons and whatever in each Solar System…and some scientist say we are it!
Me thinks Einstein was maybe right about silly science!
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Thank you so much, Hal and Judy for your words of wisdom. Yes, it might be a bit confusing, but then again, as it stands today, we only know a certain amount and no more. The Universe, to us, is infinite
Joanna.
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Thank you again.
Joanna
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“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein
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I am not quite sure about that one, but who I am to doubt Einstein?
Joanna
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Even Einstein doubted the Einstein myths!
He married his first cousin!
He didn’t speak until 4 or 5…
He couldn’t read until later.
And he was considered dumb as a child.
In today’s world, he would probably be treated with drugs for ADHS!
He was not logically minded. No!
He thought in terms of pictures, otherwise E = mc2 may have never been discovered.
He attended a Catholic School in Munich until 12; dropped out of high school at age 16; failed his college entrance exam on his first try.
He also knew more about Jesus and the Bible than he did Jewish heritage.
Read his quotes on Jesus, “Did He Really Exist!” Did Einstein read the Bible?
Don’t trust anyone
on any biased side.
Read for yourself
before you decide.
So! How can anyone
be sure
about Einstein
and his mind!
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Goodness me! Hal, Judy -restrain, please! Before you demolish poor Einstein! Do remember that he DID came up with
E = mc2, thank you,
Joanna
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I admire and quote Einstein often but what I said is basically true…
He was not an atheist. He was an agnostic and was forever striving to understand the mind of God, Spinoza’s God, who created the Universe but didn’t really follow and necessarily care!
And I did manage to include E = mc2, a monumental achievement.
I think what he overcame was remarkable indeed. I wouldn’t restrain on the truth on a genius that I truly admire.
For those who may be offended, they can restrain and ignore what I post!
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I was only joking! This is just a light banter among friends and I wasn’t offended, why should I be?
Joanna
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Thank you.
Joanna
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Thanks…I really do admire Einstein but he did overcome a lot in his journey and was just a man with good and bad faults, not a god!
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