Johann Benedict Listing
Early Life and Education
Johann Benedict Listing was born on July 25, 1808, in Frankfurt, Germany. He began his education at the Gymnasium in Frankfurt, where he developed an interest in mathematics. Listing then went on to study at the University of Göttingen, a well-known institution for mathematical studies, where he was influenced by the works of Gauss and Riemann.
Career and Contributions
Listing started his career as a Privatdozent at the University of Göttingen in 1834. He made significant contributions to the field of topology, a branch of mathematics concerned with the properties of space that are preserved under continuous transformations. Listing is credited with introducing the term "topology" in a comprehensive treatise published in 1847.
In 1851, Listing discovered the Möbius strip, a surface with only one side and one boundary. This discovery, although independently made by Möbius later the same year, has had profound implications in various fields, including mathematics, physics, and engineering.
Listing also made contributions to the field of ophthalmology. He developed Listing's law, which describes the three-dimensional eye movements and is fundamental to the understanding of binocular vision.
Later Life and Legacy
Listing continued his work at the University of Göttingen until his retirement in 1882. He passed away on December 24, 1882. His contributions to topology and ophthalmology have had a lasting impact on these fields. The term "Listing number" is used in topology to denote the number of different ways a knot can be tied.
