Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally discovered, launched the modern pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment opened the door to new physics. A geologist studying Earth’s age ended up taking on the oil companies to ban leaded gasoline. These stories are reminders that discoveries are never just dry facts: they are moments of creativity, struggle, and chance, with consequences that ripple far beyond the laboratory. This course explores the human side of science, situating breakthroughs in the context of their times and tracing how they reshaped knowledge and society. The class tours centuries of discovery, asking what was found, how it was found, and why it matters today.

Members who cancel a program registration will only receive a full refund if the following criteria are met: cancellation is received in the OLLI office 15 business days prior to the first meeting of any Course or Osher Online Course, cancellation is received in the OLLI office 30 business days prior to the event for a Special Event and/or 30 business days prior to the departure date for all day trips and overnight trips.