Who Was Eunice Foote?

Born in 1819 in Goshen, Connecticut, Eunice Newton Foote was one of twelve siblings and a distant relative of Sir Isaac Newton. Throughout her life in the 1800s, she was not only a scientist but also a passionate advocate for women's rights. She pursued studies in chemistry and biology in New York, maintaining her interest in science throughout her life.

Eunice’s curiosity led her to investigate the longstanding debate of how the Sun heats the Earth, particularly why valleys tended to be warmer than mountains despite their proximity to the Sun. Scholars at the time speculated that the angle of sunlight or air density could explain this phenomenon.

Eunice Foote’s Groundbreaking Experiments

Her experiment was straightforward, requiring only thermometers, glass cylinders, and an air pump. She transferred air from one cylinder to another, creating environments of varying densities.

With her setups ready, she placed both thermometers in sunlight and recorded the temperature changes. The high-density cylinder consistently registered higher temperatures than the low-density one.

Eunice furthered her inquiry by adding moisture to one of the cylinders, discovering that humid air heated significantly more than dry air. She also tested the impact of various gases on temperature retention.

After analyzing her results, she concluded that carbon dioxide retained solar rays more effectively than other gases. In 1856, she published her findings in the paper titled “Circumstances Affecting the Heat of the Sun’s Rays,” three years prior to Tyndall’s similar research. Her work indicated that increased carbon levels in the atmosphere could elevate global temperatures, making her the first to forecast climate change over 165 years ago.

Despite her findings, she could not determine the reasons behind carbon's heat retention, yet she recognized its potential implications for humanity.

Rediscovery After a Century

So what led to John Tyndall receiving the majority of the credit for this discovery?

Firstly, Eunice Foote was a woman in a male-dominated scientific community. After publishing her research, she was unable to present it herself; instead, her colleague John Henry represented her at the annual AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) conference.

Additionally, her status as an "amateur" scientist, lacking access to advanced equipment and formal education, contributed to her being overlooked. Although Scientific American reprinted her work a year later, the emphasis was more on her gender than on her scientific accomplishments.

Subsequent papers cited her work but often misattributed it to her husband, effectively sidelining her contributions. The underlying issues were systemic sexism, classism, and inadequate citation practices.

Despite these challenges, Eunice’s groundbreaking work remained in the shadows until 2011, when Raymond Sorenson published an in-depth article that revived her legacy. Although it remains uncertain how much Tyndall was aware of her work, it is evident that history favored his research over hers.

Fortunately, Eunice Foote is finally receiving recognition for her pioneering contributions to climate science. Her descendant, Liz Foote, an environmental researcher and marine biologist, is actively working to honor her legacy and ensure that her achievements are acknowledged.

About the Author

Victoria Fraser is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, Canada. You can find more about her work or reach out on her website. If you’re not already part of Medium, consider signing up through this link to explore more exceptional writing on the platform.