In this series, The Week looks at the ideas and innovations that permanently changed the way we see the world. This week, the spotlight is on the scientific method: As the world scrambles to deal ...

This is the basis of the modern scientific method. It blossomed in the 17th century, when a new breed of thinkers took the view that scientific knowledge can only come from first-hand observation.

The series provides an insight into some of the world's most famous scientists ... each scientist's biggest discovery, and the scientific method they used to determine them.