This Day in Science: April 30, 1897

On April 30, 1897, British physicist Joseph Thomson announced his discovery of the electron (which he called an atomic “corpuscle”). Until that time, scientists believed atoms were the smallest fundamental unit of matter. As the first to identify the presence of subatomic particles, Thomson opened the door to a new world of scientific research. His work continued to produce important results, and he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906.

In recognition of Thomson’s important research, why not lead your class in a brain lesson focusing on atomic particles or the physical properties of water? BioEd Online also offers related background and professional development content and many news stories dealing with atomic science. Our handy search tool will take you to a wide variety of resources quickly.