The final years
By Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen Two years after his ordination Niels Steensen was consecrated a bishop and from 1677-80 worked as vicar apostolic at the court of duke Johann Friedrich of Hannover (1625-79). Although the country was protestant, duke Johann Friedrich—the brother…
Niels Stensen and geology 1 (paleontology, stratigraphy and crystallography)
by Elsebeth Thomsen An extraordinary career began when Niels Stensen, also known as Nicolaus Stenonis or Steno, was admitted in 1656 to the University of Copenhagen. He became a famous scientist, not only because of his many important discoveries in…
Niels Stensen and geology 2
In 1660, Steno went to Holland in order to get a doctoral degree in medicine. Besides his discovery of ductus stenonianus, he delivered a small thesis on hot springs, ”Disputatio Physica De Thermis”, at the University of Amsterdam the same year…
Niels Stensen and geology, 3
Steno´s scientific pursuits were briefly interrrupted by his decision on 2 November 1667 to become a Catholic. He resumed his fieldwork the day after his confirmation on 8 December 1667. He first went to Pisa collecting fossil shells along the…
