Sketch a Day: J.J. Thomson

By now, I am sure you are all well aware that J.J. Thomson (discoverer of the Electron) first formulated the “plum pudding model” theory of the atom. I am sure you also remember that Ernest Rutherford also disproved this model in 1909 with his gold foil experiment.

Were you aware, however, that JJ Thomson first formulated this theory during a time in his life when he suffered from chronic obesity? Apparently, he saw puddings everywhere as is evidenced by this 1902 sketch of a lost daguerreotype recently discovered in my papers.