Yesterday, the 400th birthday of Blaise Pascal, the mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, was celebrated. Pascal is known for his work in demonstrating that air pressure decreases with altitude, which led to the development of the pascal, the international unit of measurement for physical pressure. He also made significant contributions to mathematics and probability theory. Pascal’s life was marked by his early achievements in mathematics and his later focus on theology. He is renowned for his work on the existence of God, and his ideas on betting on God as a rational choice. Pascal’s legacy is further reflected in various units of measurement named after him, including the pascal itself. Lastly, Pascal also had an initiative to improve public transportation for the poor in Paris. Despite his short life, Pascal made lasting contributions to science, philosophy, and society.
