1842 in science

The year 1842 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed here.

See also: 1841 in science, other events of 1842, 1843 in science and the list of years in science.

Mechanics

• Christian Doppler examines the Doppler shift of sound

Paleontology

• Richard Owen coins the term Dinosaur

Technology

• February 21 - John J. Greenough patents the sewing machine
• Crawford Long performs the first surgical operation using anesthesia

Awards

• Copley Medal: James MacCullagh
• Wollaston Medal: Leopold von Buch

Births

• February 2 - Yulian Vasilievich Sokhotski, mathematician (died 1927)
• May 8 - Emil Christian Hansen, fermentation physiologist (died 1909)
• August 23 - Osborne Reynolds, physicist (died 1912)
• September 9 - Elliott Coues, ornithologist (died 1899)
• September 20 - James Dewar, chemist (died 1923)
• November 12 - John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh, Nobel Prize-winning physicist (died 1919)
• December 17 - Sophus Lie, mathematician (died 1899)

Deaths

• February 15 - Archibald Menzies, botanist (born 1754)
• May 8 - Jules Dumont d'Urville, explorer (born 1790)
• August 18 - Louis de Freycinet, explored coastal regions of Western Australia (born 1779)