Nicolas Steno
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia                 Nicolas Steno      Nicolas Steno     Born  1 January 1638 ( 1638-01-01 )  [ NS : 11 January 1638]   Copenhagen , Denmark     Died  25 November 1686 ( 1686-11-25 )  (aged 48)  [ NS : 5 December 1686]  Schwerin , Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin    Nationality  Danish    Fields  Anatomy  and geology    Nicolas Steno  (1 January 1638 – 25 November 1686 [1] [2]  [ NS : 11 January 1638 – 5 December 1686] [1] ) was a Danish  Catholic  cleric and scientist  who was a pioneer in both anatomy  and geology . By 1659, Steno decided not to accept a statement as true simply because it was written in a book, but rather to rely on his own research. [3]  He is considered the father of geology and stratigraphy . [4]  Pope John Paul II  beatified  Steno in 1987.       Contents    1  Early life and career  2  Contributions to paleontology and geology  3  Religious studies  4  Legacy  5  Major works  6  Notes  7  References  8  External links     ...