Baron Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand Von Helmholtz Today

Meet the man who basically "solved" the 19th century. Baron Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (1821–1894) wasn't just a scientist; he was a one-man interdisciplinary center who bridged the gap between physics, physiology, and philosophy. Here is why he is still a legend today:

: Before Helmholtz, many believed nerve signals traveled at the speed of light. He proved they were actually quite slow—around 27–30 meters per second —by testing frog muscles with his own invention, the myograph. baron hermann ludwig ferdinand von helmholtz

: Ever been to an eye doctor? You can thank Helmholtz. He invented the ophthalmoscope in 1851, allowing physicians to see into the living human eye for the first time. He also developed the Young-Helmholtz theory , which explains how our eyes perceive color through three types of receptors. Meet the man who basically "solved" the 19th century