Meet 10 Women in Science Who Changed the World

Who are the greatest scientists of all time? Chances are, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, or other big names probably come to mind — and for good reason. Those scientists made remarkable discoveries and changed how we understand the world. 

But far too often, women are left off the roster, even though they’ve long made significant strides in science — including in eras when they were excluded from formal education and careers in the field. It was only until recently that female scientists have come out of the shadows of history.

Throughout history, women in science have not only navigated but also challenged the turbulent waters of gender bias. They contributed groundbreaking work that has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the world. From Ada Lovelace's pioneering work in computer programming to Marie Curie's revolutionary research in radioactivity, these women defied the norms of their times. Here are a few boundary-breaking women in science that should be household names, too.

Dec. 10, 1815-Nov. 27, 1852

Ada Lovelace, born Augusta Ada Byron in 1815, was an English mathematician and writer, primarily known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. While she did not have a formal degree in the modern sense, she received private tutoring in mathematics and science, an unusual educational path for women of her era.

Lovelace is regarded as the first computer programmer — long before modern computers were invented. Her notes on Charles Babbage’s proposed analytical engine (a programmable, general-purpose computer), is considered to be the very first computer algorithm.

Read More: Five Female Inventors and how Their Inventions Changed the World

Nov. 7, 1867-July 4, 1934

Marie Curie was a Polish-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. Chief among Curie’s many achievements was inventing a mobile X-ray unit that was employed during World War I. With her husband, Pierre, Curie also discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium — and developed techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes. 

In 1903, Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. After her first win in physics, she later earned an award in chemistry — making her the first person to have been awarded twice — and one of the most regarded women in science. 

Curie's work laid the foundation for the development of X-rays in surgery and the field of atomic physics. She also championed the use of radium for treating tumors. 

Read More: 5 Elements Named in Honor of Notable Scientists

Nov. 4, 1897-Feb. 7, 1984

As India’s first female plant scientist, Janaki Ammal made significant strides in the fields of botany and cytology. Educated in Madras and the U.S., she held notable positions including teaching at the Women’s Christian College and working at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute. Her work extended overseas in England before returning to India to lead the reorganization of the Botanical Survey of India, contributing immensely to genetics and plant breeding until her death in 1984.

Ammal's scientific achievements were groundbreaking, especially as a woman in her field, earning her prestigious fellowships and awards such as the Padma Shri. Her research spanned cytogenetics, medicinal plants, and ethnobotany, marking her as a dedicated and versatile scientist. Janaki Ammal lived a life devoted to botanical science, inspiring future generations with her commitment and integrity in the pursuit of knowledge.

Read More: How Scientists Are Creating the Crops of the Future

May 31, 1912-Feb. 16, 1997

Originally from China, where she earned her degree in physics from the National Central University in Nanking, Chien-Shiung Wu became a leading figure in science. Wu is renowned for her role in the Manhattan Project and was the first scientist to confirm — and later refine — Enrico Fermi’s theory of radioactive beta decay. She is also known for her “Wu experiment,” which overturned the theory of parity in physics. This breakthrough led to a Nobel Prize that was awarded to her male colleagues, with Wu’s critical role in the work overlooked. 

Despite the oversight, Wu continued to contribute to the field of nuclear physics and beyond. In 1958, her studies provided key insights into critical biological issues related to blood and sickle cell anemia. She won the National Medal of Science in 1975 and was the first woman to receive the Wolf Prize in 1978. She was also the first woman president of the American Physical Society.

Read More: The Unsung Heroes of Science

Aug. 26, 1918-Feb. 24, 2020

Katherine Johnson was an exceptional American mathematician and played a pivotal role at NASA. She overcame racial and gender barriers, making crucial calculations for the trajectories of spacecraft. Her contributions to the U.S. space missions include the Mercury program, Apollo 11 moon landing, and the Space Shuttle. 

Recognized for her contributions, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Her legacy, highlighted in the film "Hidden Figures," inspires generations in STEM fields. Johnson passed away in 2020 at the age of 101, leaving a lasting impact on space exploration and equality in the workplace.

Read More: 8 Amazing Black Scientists and How They Changed History

July 25, 1920-April 16, 1958

Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist who is best known for her revolutionary work in discovering the double helix structure of DNA. However, her contributions were used by James Watson and Francis Crick to publish their own findings on DNA's structure without giving her full credit.

Franklin's untimely death from ovarian cancer at 37, after years of exposure to X-ray radiation, likely related to her research, marked a premature end to a groundbreaking career. She passed away four years before her male colleagues were awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1962. Some believe that even if Franklin had lived, she likely would have been snubbed by the committee.

Read More: Nobel Prize Snubs: 5 People Who Deserve Recognition

July 23, 1928-Dec. 25, 2016

Vera Rubin was an astronomer whose groundbreaking work on galaxy rotation rates provided compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter, the strange glue that holds our universe together. Her contribution is regarded as one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century — work many feel should have been awarded a Nobel Prize.

Overcoming numerous barriers, she earned her Ph.D. from Georgetown University, where she later worked as a researcher and professor. Her most important discovery occurred with her colleague, Kent Ford. They found that stars on the outer parts of galaxies moved as fast as stars in the center. This didn't make sense with the usual rules of physics, suggesting there must be invisible matter, which we now call dark matter.

Throughout her career, Rubin was a tireless advocate for women in science, often speaking out against the gender discrimination she faced and working to support and mentor female scientists. While she never received the Nobel Prize, her contributions to astronomy were recognized with other awards, including the National Medal of Science. Her work continues to inspire astronomers and physicists worldwide, cementing her place as one of the most influential astronomers of the 20th century.

Read More: Do All Galaxies Have Dark Matter?

1930-

Dr. Gladys West’s work in developing mathematical modeling of the shape of the Earth served as the foundation of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. 

After earning her degrees in mathematics from Virginia State College, West joined the U.S. Navy, where her research on satellite measurements and gravitational characteristics became crucial for GPS. Her innovative work on projects like SEASAT and GEOSAT helped create accurate models of the Earth's surface, essential for GPS accuracy.

In 2018, she was inducted into the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame, one of the Air Force space command’s highest honors.

Read More: Dr. Gladys West: Navigating Her Way to the Invention of GPS Technology

Aug. 27, 1947-July 8, 2020

Flossie Wong-Staal was a groundbreaking virologist whose work was crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Born in China in 1947, her family later moved to the U.S. where she received her education. She earned a degree in bacteriology and a doctorate in molecular biology at UCLA.  

Wong-Staal was the first scientist to clone HIV and create a map of its genes, which led to a test for the virus. Thanks to her research, the first tests to diagnose HIV were developed, which significantly helped to better manage and prevent the spread of this illness.

Later, at the University of California, San Diego, she continued her influential work in virology and gene therapy, earning recognition as one of the top women scientists of her time. Wong-Staal's contributions have left an enduring legacy in medical science and public health. She passed away in July 2020, remembered for her pioneering role in biomedical research and as an inspiration for women in science.

Read More: The 50 Most Important Women in Science

Feb. 19, 1964-

Jennifer Doudna was one of the primary developers of CRISPR, a ground-breaking technology for editing genomes. She was born on February 19, 1964, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Hilo, Hawaii. Doudna's interest in science was sparked at an early age, and her academic journey took her to Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry. She then pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, receiving her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology.

Doudna is most known for her co-discovery of CRISPR-Cas9, a groundbreaking genome editing technology, alongside French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier. This revolutionary tool allows scientists to edit DNA sequences with unprecedented precision, efficiency, and flexibility, opening up new possibilities in genetic research and therapy. The approach offers the promise to put an end to diseases. For their work, Doudna and Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. Doudna's work continues to shape the field of molecular biology, and she is celebrated as one of the most influential scientists of her time.

Read More: 10 Famous Scientists and Their Contributions

Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:

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This article was originally published on March 8, 2020 and has since been updated with new information by the Discover staff.