This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
An image of an inventor, captured with his own invention:
Louis Daguerre, a pioneer in photographic chemistry, would have been 224 years old today.
Not as though he would have lived anywhere near that long. His daguerreotypes involved curing silver iodine films with heated mercury vapor, a technique not for those squeamish about heavy metal poisoning. The daguerreotype became the first truly widespread method for permanently fixing a projected image.