SCIENCE!

Any excuse for a new Google Doodle is a good one, and today’s altered Google logo is no exception.  In this case, Google’s animated doodle full of science and beakers honors the creator of the Bunsen burner, Robert Bunsen.  Born Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen in Gottingen, Germany, on March 31, 1811, Bunsen created his eponymous and simple heating system with assistant Peter Desaga in 1854 and 1855 while working at Heidelberg University.

At that time, Heidelberg was getting gas lights, and the simple burner created to power gas lights inspired Bunsen to create a simple, easy system for heating experiments.  Thus, the gas-fired burner was born.  Amazingly, Dr. Bunsen made absolutely no money off of his invention, as he didn’t patent it.  Imagine how much money he let slip from his fingers, given that the Bunsen burner is in every single high school classroom in the entire world.

Still, Bunsen did something right, because the Bunsen burner has been in continuous use for over 155 years, give or take.

Tags: Google, Google Doodle, Robert Bunsen, Robert Bunsen’s 200th birthday, Google Doodle honors Robert Bunsen, Robert Bunsen Google Doodle, Bunsen burners, Bunsen burners Google Doodle, animated Google Doodle, bunsen burners doodle animation, Google logo, Gottingen, Germany,  Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen, Heidelberg University, Peter Desaga

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