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The year 1659 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

  • Christiaan Huygens publishes Systema Saturnium, including the first illustration of the Orion Nebula.

Mathematics

  • First known use of the term Abscissa, by Stefano degli Angeli.
  • Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn publishes Teutsche Algebra, containing the first printed use of the 'division sign' (÷, a repurposed obelus variant) as a mathematical symbol for division and of the 'therefore sign' (∴).

Medicine

  • Thomas Willis publishes De Febribus.

Physics

  • Christiaan Huygens derives the formula for centripedal force.

Births

  • February 27 – William Sherard, English botanist (died 1728)
  • June 3 – David Gregory, Scottish astronomer (died 1708)

Deaths

  • October 10 – Abel Tasman, Dutch explorer (born 1603)

References