Who are the greatest scientists of the 20th century?

[Solver]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
Thermoplastics used in most molded plastics. Also artificial rubber. Also the basis of foam for furniture, mattresses etc.

Condoms .

[Dauphin]

Whoever invented 'the pill'.

[Ned]

The inventors of the transistor and IC should get some mention.

[Immortal Wombat]

Originally posted by Ned
Who discovered the structure of DNA?

James Watson and Francis Crick (although mostly they stole the results of Rosalind Franklin)

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Ned
The inventors of the transistor and IC should get some mention.

Bardeen, Schockley, and Brittain for the transistor.

Kilby and Noyce for the IC

Just FYI. Those aren't my votes.

[Immortal Wombat]

I don't think there's been any great scientists. Everything major was inspired, dreamed up via the "out of the arse" approach to discovery, and was then proved later by someone else, not deduced experimentally. All of modern physics is made up, most of modern biology was just a matter of waiting for some engineer to invent a better microscope, and chemistry never helped anyone do anything except perhaps explode faster. Everything important in the last century is either maths or engineering.