a Czech writer, playwright and critic. He has become best known for his science fiction, including his play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots, 1920), which introduced the word robot.

a British physiologist who contributed many fundamental ideas to this subject. These ideas were important parts of the British contribution to physiology, which at that time led the world.

a French engineer. In 1852 he invented the steam injector and the powered Giffard dirigible airship.

an English poet, novelist and essayist whose work concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle.

a Spanish poet and one of the leading figures of the Spanish literary movement known as the Generation of '98.

a British chemist and physicist. He is best known for his invention of the vacuum flask, which he used in conjunction with research into the liquefaction of gases.