1681-1741


Danish navigator who explored the Bering Strait and discovered Alaska. He served with the Russian navy, and made two trips to northeastern Siberia. Sailing along the coast to about 67 degree latitude he concluded that water separated Asia and America. On his second voyage he died on Bering Island.

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Bernoulli, Jakob

1654-1705


Bernoulli was the family name of three Swiss mathematicians, two bothers, Jakob and John, and John's son Daniel.

Jakob Bernoulli worked on the foundation of probability theory, analytic geometry, and the calculus of variations at the University of Basel. He also studied the catenary, the curve formed by a free hanging rope; the logarithmic spiral; and the cycloid, the path of a point on a turning circle.

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Brahe, Tycho

1546-1601


Danish astronomer who observed and charted more than 777 fixed stars.

He reformed the technique of observing planets as the planetary tables used were very defective. Previous astronomers had performed observations only when planets occupied critical points in their orbits.

Brahe began to observe the planets systematically, night after night. His assistant, Johannes Kepler, later used Brahe's accumulated observations to improve the Copernican system, which Brahe himself had rejected.

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Cabot, John

(1455?)-1499


Italian discoverer who explored Nova Scotia and Labrador in the service of England.

After Columbus made his voyages to America Cabot looked for a shorter route to the Spice Islands of the East Indies. He planned to take a route north of the one Columbus followed. In 1497 he reached the North American continent sailing down the east coast from Nova Scotia or Newfoundland.

His voyage prepared the way for the founding of the English colonies in America.

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