In shortNumber 1 in our ranking is Universal gravitation, followed by Evolution by natural selection and The structure of DNA.
The greatest scientific discoveries changed how we understand the universe, life and ourselves. We weighed their reach, how much later knowledge they made possible and their impact on everyday life.
Which would you put first? Vote below or add the one we missed.
Thanks. You voted for . Your vote counts.
We'll publish the readers' ranking once there are enough votes for it to be representative.
1. Universal gravitation
Isaac Newton · Principia, 1687
Newton explained the fall of an apple and the motion of the planets with the same laws. It was the birth of modern physics.
2. Evolution by natural selection
Charles Darwin · On the Origin of Species, 1859
It explained how life arises and changes without the need for prior design. It is the foundation of all modern biology.
3. The structure of DNA
1953 · Watson, Crick, Franklin and Wilkins
Discovering the double helix revealed how genetic information is stored and copied. Rosalind Franklin's X-ray photograph was key.
4. Penicillin
Alexander Fleming · 1928
The first widely used antibiotic has saved millions of lives. Infections that once killed could now be cured in days.
5. The theory of relativity
Albert Einstein · 1905 and 1915
It changed our idea of space, time and gravity. Without it, GPS wouldn't work with today's precision.
6. Heliocentrism
Nicolaus Copernicus · 1543
It placed the Sun, not the Earth, at the centre of the system. Galileo and Kepler confirmed it and the Scientific Revolution began.
7. Germ theory
Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch · 19th century
It showed that many diseases are caused by microorganisms. Medical hygiene, sterilisation and much of modern medicine come from it.
8. The periodic table
Dmitri Mendeleev · 1869
It ordered the chemical elements and predicted some that were not yet known. It is the map on which all of chemistry works.
9. Quantum mechanics
From Max Planck · 1900
It describes the behaviour of atoms and particles. Without it there would be no transistors, lasers or computers.
10. Electromagnetism
James Clerk Maxwell · 1865
It unified electricity, magnetism and light in a single theory. It paved the way for radio, television and wireless communication.
Frequently asked questions
What is the greatest scientific discovery of all time?
In our ranking, Newton's universal gravitation, because it founded modern physics. Evolution and the structure of DNA complete the podium.
What is the difference between a discovery and an invention?
A discovery reveals something that already existed in nature; an invention creates something new. That's why inventions have their own ranking.
Would you change the order?
Tell us what's missing, what shouldn't be here or what you'd put at number 1.