Pioneering Scientists and Their Discoveries

The video explores the challenges faced by scientists whose groundbreaking ideas were initially dismissed. It highlights the work of five scientists: William B. Coley, who pioneered early cancer immunotherapy; Francis Peyton Rous, who discovered viruses can cause cancer; Ignaz Semmelweis, who advocated for hand hygiene in medical settings; Gregor Mendel, who laid the foundation for genetics; and Alfred Wegener, who proposed continental drift. Despite initial skepticism, their contributions have significantly shaped modern science.

What is one of the main roles of a scientist?

• To write novels

• To teach students

• To make observations and form hypotheses

• To create new technologies

What was William B. Coley's approach to treating cancer?

• Administering chemotherapy

• Using radiation therapy

• Performing surgery

• Injecting bacterial infections

Why was Coley's work initially met with skepticism?

• He used unproven technology

• His results were inconsistent

• He lacked medical training

• His methods were too expensive

What did Francis Peyton Rous discover about cancer?

• It is caused by bacteria

• It can be transmitted by viruses

• It is hereditary

• It is caused by environmental factors

What was the significance of reverse transcriptase in Rous's research?

• It proved bacteria cause cancer

• It helped understand viral replication

• It was used in chemotherapy

• It was a new surgical technique

What practice did Ignaz Semmelweis advocate to reduce puerperal fever?

• Improving ventilation

• Isolating patients

• Using antibiotics

• Handwashing with disinfectants

Why was Semmelweis's handwashing policy initially rejected?

• It was not scientifically proven

• It was difficult to implement

• It contradicted the miasma theory

• It was too costly

What did Alfred Wegener propose about continents?

• They are stationary

• They are connected by bridges

• They drift over time

• They are formed by volcanoes

What was a major flaw in Wegener's continental drift theory?

• Lack of fossil evidence

• Inability to explain movement

• Contradicted known physics

• No geological support

How did Wegener's ideas gain acceptance?

• With the development of plate tectonics

• Through new fossil discoveries

• Through public support

• By proving land bridges existed