The most controversial scientists in history

While scientists are known to be super-intelligent individuals with an understanding of such things that many other people are unable to comprehend, they have also come up with ideas that people have found to be quite crazy. Many of their beliefs, theories, or ideas have faced controversies. Let us look at a few such scientists that are termed to be most controversial in history.

Thomas Midgely, Jr.

Thomas Midgely, Jr.

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Midgely, an engineer and chemist from America, was involved in two major controversies for his discoveries. He discovered the effectiveness of an antiknock additive called tetraethyl lead. He also came up with CFC Freon that was thought to be a non-toxic refrigerant to be used in home appliances. However, this discovery ended up in damaging the ozone layer of our planet.

Stubbins Ffirth

Stubbins Ffirth

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He was a doctor who offered his hypothesis that yellow fever could not spread from an infection. To prove his hypothesis, he decided to test it on his wounds. He even drank the infected vomit and did not get sick. However, it was later revealed that it was infectious when it would be injected into the bloodstream directly. The infection is usually carried by mosquitoes.

Gerhard Schrader

4.0.2

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This German chemist had discovered some insecticides. He also landed up with nerve gases when he made the accidental discovery of nerve gas agents like Tabun, Cyclosarin, Sarin, and Soman. While he was working in harmful surroundings, these nerve gases did not contribute to his natural death at the age of 97.

Vladimir Demikhov

Vladimir Demikhov

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Demikhov was a Soviet surgeon that went into controversies by creating a dog with two heads. He had actually grafted a puppy’s head onto a dog’s neck. However, the second head could only have milk to dribble down its neck and received no nourishment from it. While tissue rejection led to the early death of both the animals, Demikhov kept on creating many such breeds over a period of 15 years.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

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While he is known as the father of evolution because of his theory of evolution on the origin of species, he probably remained the most in controversies. The theory was so intensely debated that Darwin was even doubtful of publishing it. Though it was later accepted by the scientific community, it is still a topic of debates.

Many scientists have seen the challenges of controversies made against their inventions and discoveries. Still, many of them were able to prove their work right and made their names in history.

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