#43: Nicolaus Copernicus

The Renaissance astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus was a visionary who dared to challenge the geocentric model of the universe that had reigned for centuries. In the early 16th century, Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory, suggesting that the Earth revolved around the sun, a concept that revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos.

his groundbreaking findings posed a direct challenge to the Catholic Church’s doctrine, which held the Earth at the center of the universe. Fearful of the theological implications, the Church banned Copernicus’s work in 1543. However, his ideas laid the foundation for the scientific revolution, ultimately reshaping our understanding of the universe and challenging the authority of religious institutions.