Explore these biographies of real people who solved problems using mathematical skills and logical reasoning.
Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe: An astrophysicist who started losing her sight, Wanda Díaz Merced learned how to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds.
The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the Moon: Computer engineer Margaret Hamilton developed the guidance and navigation systems for the Apollo spacecraft in the 1960s, coining the term “software engineering” as she and her team solved brand-new problems.
Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant: As a young boy in China over 1,800 years ago, Cao Chong solved a difficult problem with weights and measures.
The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague: Raye Montague created equations for naval ship travel.
Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain: Sophie Germain solved a problem in math that led to better bridges.
The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook: Fannie Farmer standardized the way recipes are put together.
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor: The famous American actress Hedy Lamarr was also an inventor who developed a technique called “frequency hopping” to keep communications secure.
The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner: Lise Meitner used mathematics to discover the atom could be split.
The Brilliant Calculator: How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America: Edith Clarke created equations to allow electricity to travel faster across long distances.
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars: Elizebeth Friedman cracked codes during war and peace time.
The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II: Many teenage girls and young women also broke codes during World War II.
Katherine Johnson created critical equations needed for space travel:
- Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
- Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician
- Hidden Women: The African-American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped America Win the Space Race
- DK Life Stories: Katherine Johnson
- Who Was Katherine Johnson?