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On Neatorama: 5 Scientific Laws and the Scientists Behind Them

One of those five laws is Fourier’s Law of Heat Conduction, which deals with the transmission of heat in materials. The law states that the heat flux (the flow of heat per unit area and per unit of time), is proportional to the gradient of the temperature difference. Fourier’s Law is used in many diverse areas of science, and it explains why diamonds are cool to the touch (they have high thermal conductivity).

Some trivia about the Frenchman behind the law, Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768 - 1830):

When he was only 16, Fourier discovered a new proof of Descartes’ rule of signs. His teenage achievement quickly became standard proof. By the age of 21, however, Fourier was in doubt whether he could ever make a significant contribution to mathematics. He wrote to his professor “Yesterday was my 21st birthday, at that age Newton and Pascal had already acquired many claims to immortality.” It’s a good thing Fourier carried on!

Instead of a career in science, young Fourier seriously considered being a priest. Indeed, he arrived at the Benedictine abbey of St. Benoit-sur-Leoire to prepare for his vows, but left when he realized that he only had one true love: mathematics.

Global warming? Blame Fourier - he came up with the idea that the atmosphere acts as a “translucent dome,” which like a lid of a pot, absorbs some of the heat of the Sun and reradiates it downward to Earth.

During his last months, Fourier’s body was so frail that he would live inside a wooden box with holes cut out for his head and arms. This “living coffin” would keep his body upright and let him work on his correspondence!