Born on August 14
Hans Christian Ørsted's Birthday
The needle that twitched.
Next: August 14, 2027
Where it comes from
This Story marks the birthday of Hans Christian Ørsted, born on 14 August 1777 in Rudkøbing, on the Danish island of Langeland. The son of a pharmacist, he was apprenticed to his father at 13, then studied physics, philosophy and pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen.
How it's celebrated
There is no formal observance. The simplest way to mark the day is to repeat his experiment: lay a compass beside a wire, touch the wire's ends to a battery for a moment, and watch the needle swing.
Did you know
He published his results on 21 July 1820 in a short paper in Latin, sent to scientists and learned societies all over Europe.
Read the full story of Hans Christian Ørsted's Birthday
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