Science and technology in the United Kingdom
has a long history, producing many important
figures and developments in the field.
Major theorists from the UK include Isaac
Newton whose laws of motion and illumination
of gravity have been seen as a keystone of
modern science and Charles Darwin whose theory
of evolution by natural selection was fundamental
to the development of modern biology.
Major scientific discoveries include hydrogen
by Henry Cavendish, penicillin by Alexander
Fleming, and the structure of DNA, by Francis
Crick and others.
Major engineering projects and applications
pursued by people from the UK include the
steam locomotive developed by Richard Trevithick
and Andrew Vivian, the jet engine by Frank
Whittle and the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee.
The UK continues to play a major role in the
development of science and technology and
major technological sectors include the aerospace,
motor and pharmaceutical industries.
== Important advances made by people from
the UK ==
England and Scotland were leading centres
of the Scientific Revolution from the 17th
century and the United Kingdom led the Industrial
Revolution from the 18th century, and has
continued to produce scientists and engineers
credited with important advances.
Some of the major theories, discoveries and
applications advanced by people from the UK
are given below.
The development of empiricism and its role
in scientific method, by Francis Bacon (1561
– 1626).
The laws of motion and illumination of gravity,
by physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural
philosopher, alchemist and theologian, Sir
Isaac Newton (1643–1727).
The discovery of hydrogen, by Henry Cavendish
(1731–1810).
The steam locomotive, by Richard Trevithick
(1771–1833) and Andrew Vivian (1759–1842).
An early electric motor, by Michael Faraday
(1771–1867), who largely made electricity
viable for use in technology.
The theory of aerodynamics, by Sir George
Cayley (1773–1857).
The first public steam railway, by George
Stephenson (1781–1848).
The first commercial electrical telegraph,
co-invented by Sir William Fothergill Cooke
(1806–79) and Charles Wheatstone (1802–75).
First tunnel under a navigable river, first
all iron ship and first railway to run express
services, contributed to by Isambard Kingdom
Brunel (1806–59).
Evolution by natural selection, by Charles
Darwin (1809–82).
The invention of the incandescent light bulb,
by Joseph Swan (1826–1914).
The unification of electromagnetism, by James
Clerk Maxwell (1831–79).
The first practical telephone, patented by
Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922).
The discovery of penicillin, by biologist
and pharmacologist, Sir Alexander Fleming
(1881–1955).
The world's first working television system,
and colour television, by John Logie Baird
(1888–1946).
The first meaningful synthesis of quantum
mechanics with special relativity by Paul
Dirac (1902–84) in the equation named after
him, and his subsequent prediction of antimatter.
The invention of the jet engine, by Frank
Whittle (1907–96).
The invention of the hovercraft, by Christopher
Cockerell (1910–99).
The colossus computer, by Alan Turing (1912–54),
an early digital computer (a code breaker
in WWII made in Bletchley Park).
The structure of DNA, by Francis Crick (1916–2004)
and others.
The theoretical breakthrough of the Higgs
mechanism to explain electroweak symmetry
breaking and why some particles have mass,
by Peter Higgs (1929–).
Theories in cosmology, quantum gravity and
black holes, by Stephen Hawking (1942–2018).
The invention of the World Wide Web, by Tim
Berners-Lee (1955–).
== Technology-based industries ==
The UK plays a leading part in the aerospace
industry, with companies including Rolls-Royce
playing a leading role in the aero-engine
market; BAE Systems acting as Britain's largest
and the Pentagon's sixth largest defence supplier,
and large companies including GKN acting as
major suppliers to the Airbus project.
Two British-based companies, GlaxoSmithKline
and AstraZeneca, ranked in the top five pharmaceutical
companies in the world by sales in 2009 and
UK companies have discovered and developed
more leading medicines than any other country
apart from the US.
The UK remains a leading centre of automotive
design and production, particularly of engines,
and has around 2,600 component manufacturers.
Investment by venture capital firms in UK
technology companies was $9.7 billion from
2010–2015.
== Scientific research ==
Scientific research and development remains
important in British universities, with many
establishing science parks to facilitate production
and co-operation with industry.
Between 2004 and 2012 the UK produced 6% of
the world's scientific research papers and
had an 8% share of scientific citations, the
third- and second-highest in the world (after
the United States' 9% and China's 7% respectively).
Scientific journals produced in the UK include
Nature, the British Medical Journal and The
Lancet.Britain was one of the largest recipients
of research funding from the European Union.
From 2007-13, the UK received €8.8 billion
out of a total of €107 billion expenditure
on research, development and innovation in
EU Member States, associated and third countries.
At the time, this represented the fourth largest
share in the EU.
The European Research Council granted 79 projects
funding in the UK in 2017, more than any other
EU country.
== See also ==
Government Office for Science
Internet in the United Kingdom
List of exports of the United Kingdom
Manufacturing in the United Kingdom
Telecommunications in the United Kingdom
== 
Notes ==
