Google Doodle: Nicolas Steno friend of Nicolaes Witsen

Google Doodle - 1/11/2012

Today's Google doodle marks the birthday of Nicolas Steno,  a physician and scientist in the early Age of Enlightenment.  He made contributions to geology, crystallography and anatomy.   He knew several scientific luminaries of the age including the cartographer and Mayor of Amsterdam,  Nicolaes Witsen.   At the University of Copenhagen, he met Thomas Bartholin, discoverer of the lymphatic system and the father of  Caspar Junior who described Bartholin's glands, two glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina. 

Steno tried organized religion and found it wanting. Ironically, he may land up being made a saint by a large religious organization.