Robert Bunsen Google Doodle: March 31 is 200th...

March 31st is Robert Bunsen's 200th Birthday! Google's latest doodle is its way of paying tribute to the German chemist. Robert was born in Gottingen, Germany in 1811. At the age of

44 and with the help of his assistant, Peter Desaga, Robert created the Bunsen burner "to study the colour spectrum of different heated elements."

However, the Bunsen burner wasn't Robert's only achievement. In 1860, he and Gustav Kirchhoff discovered caesium, an alkali metal that became atomic number 55 on the periodic table of elements. A year later, Kirchhoff and Bunsen once again discovered another element: rubidium. It became atomic number 37.

There's no denying that Robert Bunsen's contributions to the world of science has been invaluable. However, how is it that Google chooses who to dedicate a doodle to? Today is also Cesar Chavez's birthday. Chavez has benefited the world also but in a different way. It really makes one wonder how Google's doodle selection process is done.

Comments: 2

Kimberly Ripley Mar 31, 2011, 11:38am UTC

I just love the term "Google doodle." Cracks me up!

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Sharon McEachern Mar 31, 2011, 6:08pm UTC

Lots of geeks doodle! Not like Google's doodle, but you can't really think of Google's artwork as "doodles." However, it reminds me that research findings include some surprises about folks who doodle. People often assume that doodlers are not paying attention if they doodle when you talk to them, or in a meeting. Actually ,doodling helps the mind to focus, aids concentration and doodlers remember what's being said better than others:

http://www.ethicsoup.com/2009/02/doodling-helps-memory-and-attention.html

Hey, wrap the conference table with butcher's paper and pass around the crayons!

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Robert Bunsen Google Doodle: March 31 is 200th Birthday for Bunsen Burner Creator

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