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<td>1687</td>
<td>1687</td>
<td>[[Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]] and [[Newton's law of universal gravitation|law of gravity]], [[Isaac Newton|Newton]]</td>
<td>[[Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]] and [[Newton's law of universal gravitation|law of gravity]]: [[Isaac Newton|Newton]]</td>


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<td colspan="2" align="center"><font size="+1">Timeline of Fundamental Physics Discoveries Since 1780</font></td></tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center"><font size="+1">Timeline of Fundamental Physics Discoveries Since 1780</font></td></tr>


<tr align="left" valign="top"><td colspan="2">Advances in our knowledge of the laws of nature consisting either of experimental discoveries or theoretical proposals that were confirmed experimentally.</td></tr>
<tr align="left" valign="top"><td colspan="2">Advances in the knowledge of the laws of nature consisting either of experimental discoveries or theoretical proposals that were confirmed experimentally.</td></tr>


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<td>1782</td>
<td>1782</td>
<td>[[Conservation of mass|Conservation of matter]], [[Lavoisier]]</td>
<td>[[Conservation of mass|Conservation of matter]]: [[Lavoisier]]</td>

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<td>1785</td>
<td>1785</td>
<td>[[Inverse square law]] for [[electric charge]]s confirmed, [[Charles-Augustin de Coulomb|Coulomb]]</td>
<td>[[Inverse square law]] for [[electric charge]]s confirmed: [[Charles-Augustin de Coulomb|Coulomb]]</td>
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<td>1801</td>
<td>1801</td>
<td>[[Wave theory of light]], [[Thomas Young (scientist)|Young]]</td>
<td>[[Wave theory of light]]: [[Thomas Young (scientist)|Young]]</td>
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<td>1803</td>
<td>1803</td>
<td>[[Atomic theory of matter]], [[John Dalton|Dalton]]</td>
<td>[[Atomic theory of matter]]: [[John Dalton|Dalton]]</td>
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<td>1806</td>
<td>1806</td>
<td>[[Kinetic energy]]: [[Thomas Young (scientist)|Young]]</td>

<td>[[Kinetic energy]], [[Thomas Young (scientist)|Young]]</td>
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<td>1814</td>
<td>1814</td>
<td>Wave theory of light, interference, [[Fresnel]]</td>
<td>Wave theory of light, interference: [[Fresnel]]</td>
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<td>1820</td>
<td>1820</td>
<td>Evidence for electro-magnetic interactions, Ampere, Biot, Savart</td>
<td>Evidence for electro-magnetic interactions: [[André-Marie Ampère|Ampère]], [[Jean-Baptiste Biot|Biot]], [[Félix Savart|Savart]]</td>

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<td>1824</td>
<td>1824</td>
<td>Ideal gas cycle analysis, internal combustion engine, [[Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot|Sadi Carnot]]</td>
<td>Ideal gas cycle analysis, internal combustion engine: [[Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot|Sadi Carnot]]</td>
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<td>1827</td>
<td>1827</td>
<td>Electrical resistance, etc., [[Georg Ohm]]</td>
<td>Electrical resistance, etc.: [[Georg Ohm|Ohm]]</td>
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<td>1838</td>
<td>1838</td>
<td>Lines of force, fields, [[Michael Faraday]]</td>
<td>Lines of force, fields: [[Michael Faraday]]</td>
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<td>1838</td>
<td>1838</td>
<td>Earth's magnetic field: [[Joseph Weber|Weber]]</td>

<td>Earth's magnetic field, Weber</td>
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<td>1842&ndash;3</td>
<td>1842&ndash;3</td>
<td>[[Conservation of energy]], Julius Robert Mayer, William Thomson</td>
<td>[[Conservation of energy]]: [[Julius Robert von Mayer|Mayer]], [[William Thomson|Kelvin]]</td>
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<td>1842</td>
<td>1842</td>
<td>[[Doppler effect]]: [[William Thomson|Kelvin]]</td>

<td>[[Doppler effect]], [[Lord Kelvin]]</td>
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<td>1845</td>
<td>1845</td>
<td>Faraday rotation (light and electromagnetic)</td>
<td>Faraday rotation (light and electromagnetic): [[Faraday]]</td>
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<td>1847</td>
<td>1847</td>
<td>Conservation of energy 2, [[James Prescott Joule|Joule]], [[Hermann von Helmholtz]]</td>
<td>Conservation of energy 2: [[James Prescott Joule|Joule]], [[Hermann von Helmholtz]]</td>


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<td>1850&ndash;1</td>
<td>1850&ndash;1</td>
<td>[[Second law of thermodynamics]], [[Rudolf Clausius]], Kelvin</td>
<td>[[Second law of thermodynamics]]: [[Rudolf Clausius|Clausius]], [[William Thomson|Kelvin]]</td>
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<td>1857&ndash;9</td>
<td>1857&ndash;9</td>
<td>Kinetic theory, Clausius, [[James Clerk Maxwell]]</td>
<td>Kinetic theory: [[Rudolf Clausius|Clausius]], [[James Clerk Maxwell|Maxwell]]</td>
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<td>1861</td>
<td>1861</td>
<td>Black body, Kirchhoff</td>
<td>Black body: [[Kirchhoff]]</td>
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<td>1863</td>
<td>1863</td>
<td>Entropy, Clausius</td>
<td>Entropy: [[Rudolf Clausius|Clausius]]</td>
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<td>1864</td>
<td>1864</td>
<td>A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field, Maxwell</td>
<td>A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field: Maxwell</td>
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<td>1867</td>
<td>1867</td>
<td>Dynamic theory of gases, Maxwell</td>
<td>Dynamic theory of gases, [[James Clerk Maxwell|Maxwell]]</td>
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<td>1871&ndash;89</td>
<td>1871&ndash;89</td>


<td>Statistical mechanics, [[Ludwig Boltzmann|Boltzmann]], [[Josiah Willard Gibbs|Gibbs]]</td>
<td>Statistical mechanics: [[Ludwig Boltzmann|Boltzmann]], [[Josiah Willard Gibbs|Gibbs]]</td>
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<td>1887</td>
<td>1887</td>
<td>Electromagnetic waves, Hertz</td>
<td>Electromagnetic waves: Hertz</td>


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<td>1893</td>
<td>1893</td>
<td>Wein's radiation law</td>
<td>radiation law: Wein</td>
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<td>1895</td>
<td>1895</td>
<td>[[X-ray]]s [[Wilhelm Röntgen]]</td>
<td>[[X-ray]]s: [[Wilhelm Röntgen]]</td>
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<td>1897</td>
<td>1897</td>
<td>Electron [[J. J. Thomson]]</td>
<td>Electron: [[J. J. Thomson]]</td>
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<td>1905</td>
<td>1905</td>
<td>[[Special relativity]], [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]<br>
<td>[[Special relativity]]: [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]<br>
[[Photoelectric effect]], Einstein<br>
[[Photoelectric effect]]: [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]<br>
[[Brownian motion]], Einstein</td>
[[Brownian motion]]: [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]</td>

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<td>1911</td>
<td>1911</td>
<td>[[Equivalence principle]]<br>
<td>[[Equivalence principle]]<br>
Discovery of the [[Atomic nucleus]]<br>
Discovery of the [[Atomic nucleus]]<br>
[[Superconductivity]]</td>
[[Superconductivity]]</td>
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<td>1913</td>
<td>1913</td>
<td>[[Bohr model]] of the atom: Bohr</td>

<td>[[Bohr model]] of the atom</td>
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<td>1916</td>
<td>1916</td>
<td>[[General relativity]], Einstein</td>
<td>[[General relativity]]: [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]</td>
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<td>1925</td>
<td>1925</td>

<td>Stellar structure understood</td>
<td>Stellar structure understood</td>
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<td>1927</td>
<td>1927</td>
<td>[[Big Bang]] proposed by [[Georges Lemaître|Lemaitre]]</td>
<td>[[Big Bang]]: [[Georges Lemaître|Lemaitre]]</td>
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<td>1929</td>
<td>1929</td>
<td>[[Edwin Hubble|Hubble]] confirms expansion of universe</td>
<td>expansion of universe confirmed: [[Edwin Hubble|Hubble]]</td>
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<td>1944</td>
<td>1944</td>
<td>Theory of magnetism in 2D [[Ising model]]</td>
<td>Theory of magnetism in 2D: [[Ising model]]</td>
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<td>'''1955'''</td>
<td>'''1955'''</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>1956&ndash;7</td>
<td>1956&ndash;7</td>

<td>[[Parity (physics)|Parity]] found violated</td>
<td>[[Parity (physics)|Parity]] found violated</td>
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<td>1959&ndash;60</td>
<td>1959&ndash;60</td>

<td>Role of [[topology]] in quantum physics, predicted and confirmed</td>
<td>Role of [[topology]] in quantum physics, predicted and confirmed</td>
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<td>1963</td>
<td>1963</td>

<td>[[Quark]]s predicted</td>
<td>[[Quark]]s predicted</td>
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<td>1968</td>
<td>1968</td>
<td>Experimental evidence for quarks found</td>
<td>Experimental evidence for quarks found</td>
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<td>1971</td>
<td>1971</td>
<td>[[Helium-3|Helium 3]] [[Superfluid|superfluidity]]</td>
<td>[[Helium-3|Helium 3]] [[Superfluid|superfluidity]]</td>
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<td>[[Black hole]] radiation predicted<br>
<td>[[Black hole]] radiation predicted<br>
[[Renormalization group]]
[[Renormalization group]]

[[Charmed quark]] found</td>
[[Charmed quark]] found</td>
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<td>1977</td>
<td>1977</td>
<td>[[Bottom quark]] found</td>
<td>[[Bottom quark]] found</td>

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<td>1980</td>
<td>1980</td>
<td>[[Quantum Hall effect]]</td>
<td>[[Quantum Hall effect]]</td>
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<td>1982</td>
<td>1982</td>
<td>[[Fractional quantum Hall effect]]</td>
<td>[[Fractional quantum Hall effect]]</td>

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<td>1995</td>
<td>1995</td>

<td>[[Bose–Einstein condensate]] found</td>
<td>[[Bose–Einstein condensate]] found</td>
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<td>1998</td>
<td>1998</td>
<td>[[Dark energy]] discovered</td>
<td>[[Dark energy]] discovered</td>

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<td>[[Tau neutrino]] found</td>
<td>[[Tau neutrino]] found</td>
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<td>2003</td>
<td>2003</td>

Revision as of 13:54, 29 March 2011

This table provides an overview of the scientific relevant discoveries which would have to be predicted in its entirety by a theory of everything, in order to claim itself as a success.

Timeline of Fundamental Physics Discoveries Before 1780
1687 laws of motion and law of gravity: Newton
Timeline of Fundamental Physics Discoveries Since 1780
Advances in the knowledge of the laws of nature consisting either of experimental discoveries or theoretical proposals that were confirmed experimentally.
1780  
1782 Conservation of matter: Lavoisier
1785 Inverse square law for electric charges confirmed: Coulomb
1801 Wave theory of light: Young
1803 Atomic theory of matter: Dalton
1805  
1806 Kinetic energy: Young
1814 Wave theory of light, interference: Fresnel
1820 Evidence for electro-magnetic interactions: Ampère, Biot, Savart
1824 Ideal gas cycle analysis, internal combustion engine: Sadi Carnot
1827 Electrical resistance, etc.: Ohm
1830  
1838 Lines of force, fields: Michael Faraday
1838 Earth's magnetic field: Weber
1842–3 Conservation of energy: Mayer, Kelvin
1842 Doppler effect: Kelvin
1845 Faraday rotation (light and electromagnetic): Faraday
1847 Conservation of energy 2: Joule, Hermann von Helmholtz
1850–1 Second law of thermodynamics: Clausius, Kelvin
1855  
1857–9 Kinetic theory: Clausius, Maxwell
1861 Black body: Kirchhoff
1863 Entropy: Clausius
1864 A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field: Maxwell
1867 Dynamic theory of gases, Maxwell
1880  
1871–89 Statistical mechanics: Boltzmann, Gibbs
1884 Boltzmann derives Stefan radiation law
1887 Electromagnetic waves: Hertz
1893 radiation law: Wein
1895 X-rays: Wilhelm Röntgen
1897 Electron: J. J. Thomson
1900 Planck formula for radiation
1905  
1905 Special relativity: Einstein

Photoelectric effect: Einstein

Brownian motion: Einstein
1911 Equivalence principle

Discovery of the Atomic nucleus

Superconductivity
1913 Bohr model of the atom: Bohr
1916 General relativity: Einstein
1919 Light bending confirmed
1922 Friedmann proposes expanding universe
1923 Stern-Gerlach experiment

Matter waves

Galaxies

Particle nature of photons confirmed
1925–7 Quantum mechanics
1925 Stellar structure understood
1927 Big Bang: Lemaitre
1928 Antimatter predicted
1929 expansion of universe confirmed: Hubble
1930  
1932 Antimatter confirmed
Neutron discovered
1933 Dark matter found
1937 Muon discovered
1938 Superfluidity discovered
Energy production in stars understood
1939 Uranium fission discovered
1944 Theory of magnetism in 2D: Ising model
1947 Pion discovered
1948 Quantum electrodynamics
1955  
1956 Electron neutrino discovered
1956–7 Parity found violated
1957 Superconductivity explained
1959–60 Role of topology in quantum physics, predicted and confirmed
1962 SU(3) theory of strong interactions
Muon neutrino found
1963 Quarks predicted
1967 Unification of weak and electromagnetic interactions

Solar neutrino problem found

Pulsars (neutron stars) discovered
1968 Experimental evidence for quarks found
1970–3 Standard model of elementary particles invented
1971 Helium 3 superfluidity
1974 Black hole radiation predicted

Renormalization group

Charmed quark found
1975 Tau lepton found
1977 Bottom quark found
1978 Dark matter found in galaxies
1980  
1980 Quantum Hall effect
1981 Theory of cosmic inflation proposed
1982 Fractional quantum Hall effect
1995 Bose–Einstein condensate found
1995 Top quark found
1998 Dark energy discovered
2000 Tau neutrino found
2003 WMAP observations of Cosmic microwave background
Timeline Source: American Physical Society