Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
Charles Darwin’s thought experiment of a “tree of life” represented evolutionary descent and was critical in developing his theory of natural selection.
Maxwell’s Demon Advanced Genetics
Physicist Leo Szilard adapted James Clerk Maxwell’s famous Maxwell’s Demon thought experiment from physics to genetics in the 1960s, showcasing cross-disciplinary thinking.
Unlocking the Secrets of Life
In 1953, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Rosalind Franklin revolutionized science and medicine by discovering the double helix structure of DNA. Their breakthrough relied not just on experimental data, but on imaginative thought experiments.
