Atoms: A Very Brief History of the Beginnings of the Concept

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Nature of Science, History of Science

Ed Hessler

This is a very short and accessible note on how our understanding of atoms and molecules came to be backed by evidence. The idea of atoms is old and originated in philosophy - the idea was that there were very small divisions in all substances.

Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) summarizes the observational evidence and even provides a demonstration you can try at home. And it can be use to ask about the nature of the evidence it provides.