Julius Lothar Meyer Is Google Doodle’s Latest Honoree

Wednesday’s Google Doodle is a chalkboard scene featuring scientist Julius Lothar Meyer. Google is honoring the German chemist on his 190th birthday.

If it’s been a while since science class, some might be wondering, who is Julius Lothar Meyer? The scientist made major contributions in his field that are still used today. Mainly, he is remembered for developing one of the first versions of the periodic table of chemical elements.

Lothar Meyer (he never used his given first name) was a teacher for decades, with his most prominent position being as a professor of chemistry at the University of Tübingen for nearly 20 years. His 1864 book “Modern Chemical Theory” discussed the connection between atomic weights and the properties of elements, and it became an influential text, according to Britannica. His work was separate from that of Dmitry Mendeleyev, who is widely considered the father of the periodic table.

The scientist, who was a peer of Robert Bunsen (of Bunsen burner fame), also provided groundbreaking work on how carbon monoxide affects the blood and the relationship between oxygen and hemoglobin.

Meyer married Johanna Volkmann in 1866. He died at age 65 in 1895.

Wednesday’s Google Doodle shows an illustration of Meyer with various scientific accouterments and a version of his periodic table behind him.