Google doodles

[9A]

Mar 29, 2023

Lasminingrat's 169th Birthday





Today’s handsewn Doodle celebrates the 169th birthday of Sundanese author and scholar Lasminingrat who paved the way for future generations of Indonesian women.

Raden Ayu Lasminingrat was born on this day in 1854 in Garut, Indonesia to Raden Ayu Ria and Raden Haji Muhamad Musa, a pioneer of Sundanese printed literature and scholar. In order to pursue her education in Sumedang, she had to be separated from her family and was left under the care of her father’s friend Levyson Norman. He helped to teach her Dutch and contributed to Lasminingrat becoming the first Indonesian woman to be fluent in writing and reading Dutch during her time. After becoming proficient in writing and speaking Dutch, Lasminigrat dreamed of advancing equality for all Indonesian women.

Lasminingrat used her literacy skills to adapt European fairy tales into Sundanese. Under her father’s guidance she started to educate Indonesian children in 1879. She read adapted books aloud, and taught basic moral education and psychology. Her work provided schooling to native Indonesian children and exposed them to international cultures. She continued to translate books into Sundanese, including Warnasari volumes 1 and 2, which were widely celebrated throughout Indonesia.

In 1907, Lasminingrat founded the Sekolaha Keutamaan Istri. The open environment and learning area promoted women’s empowerment, reading, and writing. The school grew to 200 students and 5 classes, and was recognized by the Dutch East Indies government in 1911. With time, the school continued to grow and by 1934 expanded to other cities such as Wetan Garut, Cikajang, and Bayongbong.

Thank you, Lasminingrat for dedicating your life to empowering Indonesian women and being a pioneer in women's education.

[9A]

Mar 01, 2023

Celebrating Mickey Chen





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Taiwan-based guest artist Dyin Li, celebrates Taiwanese filmmaker and activist Mickey Chen, who focused on telling stories from people that belonged to disenfranchised communities. On this day in 1999, his film Boys for Beauty became the first LGBTQ-themed documentary to be screened at a movie theater in Taiwan.

Chen, fascinated by cameras from a young age, started creating movies in college. At 30, he made his directorial debut with Not Simply a Wedding Banquet [[1997), a documentary about the first gay couple to have a public wedding in Taipei. It explored the struggles that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced in Taiwan.

In 1999, Chen released Boys for Beauty, an eye-opening exposé that followed the lives of three gay teenagers from Taipei. The film took a bold stance against gender norms and showcased the societal pressures each subjects’ relatives endured. It was a box office success and a pivotal achievement for Taiwanese cinema.

Boys for Beauty won countless awards and film festival placements, most notably the Audience Award at the 2000 Taiwan International Documentary Festival. Chen gave an inspiring acceptance speech that praised the LGBTQ+ movement and invited several directors to join his on stage in an act of solidarity.

Chen wrote and directed many more documentaries such as Memorandum on Happiness [2003], Scars on Memory [2005], and Fragile in Love [2007]. He also published Taipei Father, New York Mother in 2011, a book about family tragedies that occurred during his youth. Throughout his career, Chen documented significant moments of LGBTQ+ history in Taiwan and opened the eyes of the public to them and Taiwan’s progressive LGBTQ+ societal views are a result of trailblazers like him.

[9A]

Aug 31, 2022

Julio Ramón Ribeyro's 93rd Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 93rd birthday of Peruvian author Julio Ramón Ribeyro. Considered one of the greatest Latin American short-story writers of all time, he provided powerful social criticism through the lens of fantasy.

Ribeyro was born on this day in 1929 in Lima, Peru. He and his three siblings had a middle-class childhood until their father’s untimely death left the family in poverty.

Ribeyro went on to study arts and law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru before publishing his first short story, The Grey Life, in Correo Bolivariano magazine in 1948. A few years later, the Institute of Hispanic Culture awarded him a journalism fellowship in Spain.

Ribeyro published his most famous short story The Featherless Buzzards [Los gallinazos sin plumas] in 1955, which critics praised for capturing the harsh reality of life in Peruvian slums. After that, he briefly studied French literature at Sorbonne University before dropping out to work as a hotel doorman and factory worker to sustain his writing.

In 1958, Ribeyro returned to Peru to become a professor at the National University of San Cristobal de Huamanga. Two years later, he finished his first novel Chronicle of San Gabriel. The book, which explores life in an isolated rural Peruvian community, immediately won a national prize.

After the publication of his book, Ribeyro returned to Paris, where he worked as a journalist, translator and an editor at Agence France Presse over the next 10 years.

In 1970, Ribeyro became a Peruvian cultural advisor and later an ambassador to UNESCO. Despite his busy schedule as a diplomat, Ribeyro continued writing. By the end of his career, he had published eight volumes of short stories and several novels, essays and plays. His work has been translated into multiple languages. In 1994, he won the prestigious Juan Rulfo Prize for Literature.

Happy 93rd birthday, Julio Ramón Ribeyro! Your powerful writing continues to change people’s perceptions of the world.

[9A]

Jun 03, 2022

Celebrating Rosane Kaingang





Today’s Doodle celebrates the unshakeable spirit of Rosane Mattos Kaingang, an Indigenous Brazilian activist who worked tirelessly to fight for Native rights. She brought representation to the Indigenous community and played a critical role in helping the Council of Human Rights [CNDH] investigate rights violations against Native Brazilians. On this day in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development hosted in Rio de Janeiro [or Rio 92 Conference], she began her life of service to the indigenous movement.

Kaingang was a descendant of the Kaingang people, an Indigenous ethnic group primarily from the southern states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Her indigenous name, Kokoj, means “hummingbird,” and was given to her during a ceremony in honor of her great-grandmother, who died at 120 years old! Just like her name, everything she later worked for was strongly rooted in her community and heritage.

She spent her adult life fighting for the recognition of rightful territories, sustainable community development and access to quality education and medical services. Kaingang was also instrumental in bringing awareness to the struggles of Indigenous women. As one of the founders of the National Council of Indigenous Women of Brazil [[CONAMI), she helped create a structure for Indigenous women to organize and protest as a larger body. These protests urged for broader access to resources and Indigenous labor rights.

Kaingang also represented several other social reform groups, most notably the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil [APIB], the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the South [ARPINSUL] and the National Indian Foundation [FUNAI]. She participated in dozens of meetings, seminars, hearings and mobilization efforts that advocated for a more equitable future for Native Brazilians.

Kaingang is remembered for her dedication and love for the Indigenous community — a true warrior who never stayed silent in the face of injustice and adversity.

[9A]

Jan 17, 2022

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2022




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Brooklyn, New York-based guest artist Olivia Fields, celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This United States federal holiday commemorates a day of service and reflection on the life and work of Dr. King—the civil rights leader who worked as a lifelong advocate for racial equality and the end of segregation.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He began his career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a pastor and community leader in the NAACP, which aimed to establish legal protections for the Black community across all aspects of social and institutional life. Members of the NAACP elected Dr. King to fight segregation by leading a historic bus boycott in 1955. As the first, large-scale, peaceful demonstration of its kind, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts marked a turning point in the American civil rights movement and inspired generations to fight for civil rights.

Through influential demonstrations, speeches, and written works, Dr. King spread his message of racial justice and economic equality. His efforts culminated with the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation that decreed the end of legal public segregation and discrimination in the United States. In commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday, the third Monday in January was declared a federal holiday in 1983 and observed for the first time in 1986.

Dr. King’s legacy lives on in the work of his children and in the millions inspired by his impactful rhetoric to continue pushing the arc of the moral universe to an equitable society for all.

Happy MLK Day!

[9A]

Mar 23, 2022

Elena Caffarena's 119th Birthday


Today’s Doodle—illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu—celebrates the 119th birthday of Elena Caffarena, a feminist lawyer who helped Chilean women win the right to vote in national elections. Considered one of the most important Chilean public figures of the 20th century, Caffarena spearheaded Chile’s workers' rights and women’s rights movements.

Caffarena came of age during a time when the working class labored in perilous conditions to earn meager wages. Caffarena attended the University of Chile in the early 1920s and became one of the first Chilean women to earn a law degree. Around this time, she met Luis Emilio Recabarren, a former low-wage worker and union organizer. He deepened her determination to fight for the rights of underserved communities.

In 1935, Caffarena co-founded the Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women, the first national group to advocate for equal salaries and opportunities for women. Thanks to a bill that Caffarena co-wrote, the Chilean feminists achieved universal suffrage in 1949.

Today’s Doodle celebrates her birthday and reflects on all she accomplished for the Chilean working class and women!

[9A]

Mar 01, 2021

St. David's Day 2021




Today’s Doodle is illustrated by Welsh guest artist Elin Manon and inspired by the legend of Dinas Emrys—one of Wales’ most famous historic tales—celebrating St. David’s Day.

Myth has it that in the fifth century, a Celtic king named Vortigen discovered what he thought was the perfect place to build his castle on the Welsh hillside. However, Myrddin Emrys [Merlin, the wizard] convinced Vortigen that there was a catch—a large fire-breathing one! The spot he had chosen was directly above the lair of two slumbering dragons; one red, one white. Upon the castle’s construction, the two dragons were found in a fierce battle. The red dragon emerged victorious and returned to rest in his subterranean lair, allowing Vortigen to complete the building of his fortress once the dust had settled.

The red dragon has since become an immortal symbol of the Welsh people and St. David’s Day, along with the daffodil—the yellow flower surrounding it in the Doodle artwork. Although the tale of Dinas Emrys may sound like nothing but fantasy, a 1945 excavation of the site found remains of a fortress dating back to Vortigen’s time.

So take caution if you ever plan to venture to the ruins of Dinas Emrys... you may awaken a dragon.

Happy St. David’s Day!

[9A]

Feb 14, 2019

Valentine's Day 2019




There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. But when you get right down to it, today is all about one thing: the universal, undeniable power of love.

Love comes in all shapes and sizes—or even species! Consider the lovestruck critters featured in today’s Doodle. Irresistibly drawn to one another, they will wriggle, chomp, and spin webs through any obstacles to express their eternal devotion.

Happy Valentines Day!

Doodle Artist: Lydia Nichols

[9A]

Apr 02, 2013

Maria Sibylla Merian's 366th Birthday





The most striking thing about Maria Sybilla Merian was her ability to do two things at once. Firstly, her illustrations boasted impeccable observational and scientific clarity; it's fairly obvious that the entomologist neglected all short-cuts in the rendering of chitinous exoskeletons and dramatic stages in metamorphosis of her subjects. Secondly, Merian's drawings accomplished this with such a flow of line work, crystalline color, and balanced composition as to be sublimely inviting to the viewer. [This is especially remarkable when observing her renditions of specimens that might be, shall we say, less than personable if approached in the wild.]

While Merian was most known for her depictions of insects, she did cover a range of species across various animal kingdoms. I was inspired by particular painting involving a young iguana, whose curl of the tail coincided nicely with the shape of a lower-case 'g'.

[9A]

Jan 09, 2016

41st Anniversary of the Discovery of the Mountain of the Butterflies





In 1975, after a decades long search that involved thousands of volunteers and spanned an entire continent, Ken Brugger and Catalina Trail unlocked one of nature’s most beautiful mysteries: the overwintering place of the monarch butterfly. Led by a team of Canadian Zoologists under Fred Urquhart, the couple followed clues left by tagged butterflies that had strayed or fallen on their migratory journeys south. The scene, in which millions of monarchs cling to oyamel trees in Mexico’s easternmost Sierra Madre Mountains, would have been overwhelming. “They swirled through the air like autumn leaves,” said Urquhart after his first visit, “carpet[ing] the ground in their flaming myriads on the Mexican mountainside.”

With today’s homepage, Artist Kevin Laughlin recognizes the 41st anniversary of an incredible discovery and the singularly awesome beauty of the monarch butterfly.

[9A]

Feb 23, 2024

Casimir Funk's 140th Birthday


Funk grew up in Poland, and after finishing high school, he traveled to Switzerland to study biology and chemistry. At just 20 years old, Funk received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Bern and began working at various research institutions across Europe.

This Doodle celebrates the 140th birthday of Casimir Funk, the father of vitamins. He was a Polish American biochemist and first to formulate the concept of “vital amines.” This groundbreaking scientific and nutritional discovery helped cure several life-threatening diseases.

As time passed, he became more and more interested in the effects of food ingredients on certain illnesses like scurvy, cancer, pellagra, rickets, and more. In 1911, Funk experimented with a mysterious substance called B1 [thiamine] and formed it into small, ingestible crystals that helped with the growth and function of various cells. He named his creation vitamines, after the Latin words vita [life] and amine [chemical compound containing an amino group]. The term was later shortened to vitamin.

In 1915, Funk immigrated to New York City and became a naturalized American citizen in 1920. In the US, he worked in research positions at universities and years later went on to serve as consultant to the US Vitamin Corporation.

Throughout the next few years, Funk continued discovering different vitamins and determined the foods each were found in. After publishing his book Die Vitamine, scientists around the world went on to discover 13 different vitamins over the next 35 years. His contributions to nutrition and medicine helped humanity overcome illnesses like scurvy, and opened several other doors for further scientific discovery.

Happy birthday, Casimir Funk!

[9A]

Nov 15, 2022

Hamed Gohar's 115th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 115th birthday of Hamed Gahar, a renowned Egyptian scientist, marine biologist and TV host. He is considered the founding father of oceanography in Egypt and the Arab world, and hosted an educational show called “Sea World” for 18 years.

Gohar was born on this day in 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. He was a gifted student from an early age and studied medicine at Cairo University in 1925. However, he decided to pursue biology and received his master’s degree in oceanography from Cambridge University in 1931. Gohar then began researching xenia, or soft coral, along the coast of the Red Sea.

Gohar discovered that dugong, a sea mammal that was thought to be extinct in the region, still existed in the Red Sea. He continued studying underwater life for 25 years at the Hurghada marine biological station, and it’s rumored that he never ate fish due to his love for sea creatures.

Gohar made several contributions to Egyptian and Arabic marine biology. He worked with the Arabic Language Academy to create scientific dictionaries in Arabic. He also served as an adviser to the United Nations’ Secretary General and helped organize the first International Conference on Law of the Sea in Geneva.

An entire generation of Arabs know Gohar from his popular TV show, “Sea World”, which he hosted for more than 18 years. By highlighting underwater scenery and natural sea life, Gohar gifted Arabs with inspiring knowledge about marine biology, and is remembered today for his distinct voice and unending love for the ocean.

Happy 115th birthday, Hamed Gohar!

[9A]

Nov 08, 2021

Dr. Kamal Ranadive's 104th Birthday



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by India-based guest artist Ibrahim Rayintakath, celebrates Indian cell biologist Dr. Kamal Ranadive on her 104th birthday. Ranadive is best known for her groundbreaking cancer research and devotion to creating a more equitable society through science and education.

Kamal Samarath, better known as Kamal Ranadive, was born on this day in 1917 in Pune, India. Her father’s encouragement to pursue a medical education inspired Ranadive to excel academically, but she found her calling in biology instead. In 1949, she received a doctorate in cytology, the study of cells, while working as a researcher in the Indian Cancer Research Center [ICRC]. After a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, she returned to Mumbai [then Bombay] and the ICRC, where she established the country’s first tissue culture laboratory.

As the director of the ICRC and a pioneer in animal modeling of cancer development, Ranadive was among the first researchers in India to propose a link between breast cancer and heredity and to identify the links among cancers and certain viruses. Continuing this trailblazing work, Ranadive studied Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, and aided in developing a vaccine. In 1973, Dr. Ranadive and 11 colleagues founded the Indian Women Scientists’ Association [IWSA] to support women in scientific fields.

Ranadive fervently encouraged students and Indian scholars abroad to return to India and put their knowledge to work for their communities. After retiring in 1989, Dr. Ranadive worked in rural communities in Maharashtra, training women as healthcare workers and providing health and nutrition education. The IWSA now has 11 chapters in India and provides scholarships and childcare options for women in science. Dr. Ranadive’s dedication to health justice and education remains influential to her students who work as scientists today.

Happy birthday, Dr. Kamal Ranadive!

[9A]

Sep 02, 2021

Rudolf Weigl's 138th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 138th birthday of Polish inventor, doctor, and immunologist Rudolf Weigl. He produced the first effective vaccine against epidemic typhus—one of humanity’s oldest and most infectious diseases.

On this day in 1883, Rudolf Stefan Weigl was born in the Austro-Hungarian town of Przerów [modern-day Czech Republic]. He went on to study biological sciences at Poland’s Lwów University and was appointed as a parasitologist in the Polish Army in 1914. As millions across Eastern Europe were plagued by typhus, Weigl became determined to stop its spread.

Body lice were known to carry the typhus-infecting bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, so Weigl adapted the tiny insect into a laboratory specimen. His innovative research revealed how to use lice to propagate the deadly bacteria which he studied for decades with the hope of developing a vaccine. In 1936, Weigl’s vaccine successfully inoculated its first beneficiary. When Germany occupied Poland during the outbreak of the Second World War, Weigl was forced to open a vaccine production plant. He used the facility to hire friends and colleagues at risk of persecution under the new regime.

An estimated 5,000 people were saved due to Weigl’s work during this period--both due to his direct efforts to protect his neighbors and to the thousands of vaccine doses distributed nationwide. Today, Weigl is widely lauded as a remarkable scientist and hero. His work has been honored by not one but two Nobel Prize nominations!

From studying a tiny louse to saving thousands of human lives, the impacts your tireless work had on the world are felt to this day—Happy Birthday, Rudolf Weigl!

[9A]

Oct 03, 2021

Dr. María de los Ángeles Alvariño González's 105th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 105th birthday of Spanish-American professor and marine research biologist Dr. María de los Ángeles Alvariño González, who is widely regarded as one of the most important Spanish scientists of all time.

María de los Ángeles Alvariño González was born on this day in 1916 in Serantes, a small coastal town in northern Spain’s Galician coast. Ángeles Alvariño’s love of natural history began with her father’s library and deepened as she pursued coastline oceanography research. Although the Spanish Institute of Oceanography [IEO] only accepted men at the time, Ángeles Alvariño’s university work impressed the organization that they appointed her as a marine biologist in 1952.

At IEO’s Vigo Oceanographic Center, she began her pioneering research on zooplankton, tiny organisms that serve as the foundation of the oceanic food chain and identified some species to be the best indicators of ocean health. In 1953, the British Council awarded Ángeles Alvariño a fellowship that resulted in her becoming the first woman to work as a scientist aboard a British research vessel. Following several expeditions, she furthered her studies in the U.S., where she retired as one of the world’s most prestigious marine biologists in 1987.

In addition to Ángeles Alvariño’s rigorous research, including the discovery of 22 new species of zooplankton and the publication of over 100 scientific papers, she held professorships in Brazil, the U.S., and Mexico. Today, Ángeles Alvariño is the only Spanish scientist of 1,000 in the “Encyclopedia of World Scientists,” and a modern research vessel in IEO’s fleet bears her name.

Happy birthday, Dr. María de los Ángeles Alvariño González!

[9A]

Apr 14, 2023

Sanda Bunsidth's 104th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 104th birthday of Thai artist Sanda Bunsidth. A skilled and creative weaver, her innovative methods are forever intertwined with her culture.

Bunsidth was born in Ban Tha Muang, Thailand on this day in 1919. Although she never received a formal education, family members taught her how to read and write. She started weaving at a young age under the guidance of her grandma, a skilled craftsperson who often worked with dyes and ancient herbs.

After marrying, Bunsidth developed a method of weaving called “bark cloth,” to create khaki-colored uniforms for her husband’s job as a civil servant. Wives in her town took notice of her impressive work, and Bunsidth offered to teach them. Eventually, she organized and taught a weaving group called "Ban Rai Phai Ngam Housewives Group,” which grew to over 40 members.

The group’s designs earned praise from the public and Bunisdth reached folk-hero status across Thailand. She was lauded for her ability to use her surroundings as inspiration and keep the environment top-of-mind throughout the creation process. She instructed the group to use pure herbal dyes in fabric without any chemical additives while still managing to develop entirely new designs.

Bunsidth earned the Outstanding Folk Artist Award in 1985 and in 1986, she won the Science Society of Thailand’s award for Outstanding Lanna science and technology worker in the field of textiles. Her work continues to inspire generations of Thai weavers.

[9A]

Nov 27, 2022

Ronit Elkabetz's 58th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been Ronit Elkabetz’s 58th birthday, and was illustrated by Israeli guest artist Maya Shleifer. One of the most acclaimed actresses of her time, the Mizrahi star is considered an icon across Israel and France for her work on both sides of the camera.

Elkabetz was born on this day in Beersheba, Israel, in 1964. She grew up speaking Hebrew, Arabic, and French thanks to her Moroccan roots. With piercing good looks and poise beyond her years, 17-year-old Elkabetz began her career as a fashion model in Tel Aviv.

In 1990, Elkabetz auditioned for what she believed was a commercial—it was actually for the film, The Appointed. Despite having no acting training or experience, Elkabetz won the lead role that set her film career into motion. Next, she starred in Sh'Chur as the older sister in a family caught up in superstitions, for which she won her first Ophir Award [the Israeli Oscars].

In 1997, she moved to Paris to study acting at Theatre du Soleil and supported herself by working as a waitress. After completing her training, she starred in the French film Origine contrôlée. Months later, she earned her second Israeli Ophir Award for Late Marriage. Elkabetz's ability to capture emotionally rich characters made her an in-demand actress in both Israeli and French cinema.

After starring in Or, which won the Camera d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, Elkabetz became interested in other parts of the filmmaking process. In that year she worked on her debut film as a director and screenwriter, To Take a Wife, which would become the first of a film trilogy she created with her brother, director and actor Shlomi Elkabetz. The Elkabetz trilogy, an Israeli-French co-production, also includes the films Shiva and Golden Globe nominated Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem. It had a tremendous impact on Israeli society and culture, featuring the first authentic portrayal of a Mizrahi family in Israeli cinema and promoting the plight of Jewish women denied a divorce in the rabbinical court system in Israel.

Elkabetz was nominated for thirteen Ophir Awards over the course of her career. She was also awarded the French Legion of Honor for her work. Leaving behind a groundbreaking legacy of strong female leads, Elkabetz conquered complex roles and multiple art forms while popularizing Israeli cinema

Happy birthday, Ronit Elkabetz!

[9A]

Feb 15, 2022

Lantern Festival 2022




Today’s Doodle celebrates the Lantern Festival on the first full moon of the Lunar calendar. Traditions call for celebrants to light lanterns and send them floating into the sky as a symbolic act that honors one’s ancestors and symbolizes the release of the past while shining a light on the year to come.

Modern-day celebrations of the Lantern Festival have ancient roots. Stretching back over 2,000 years to the start of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the customs that characterize the holiday are a testament to the power of China’s oral storytelling traditions. The most common type of lantern seen across the skies today are small orbs, but many artisans create unique designs that take on all sizes and shapes—from giant dragons to lanterns small enough for children to carry.

To add an extra element of fun, many people slip small pieces of paper inscribed with riddles inside their lanterns. Some riddles are even made so difficult, they’ve earned the nickname “lantern tigers,” as it’s said it's easier to fight a tiger than solve them!

Happy Lantern Festival!

[9A]

Sep 30, 2023

Ferdinand Berthier’s 220th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates Deaf French educator and intellectual Ferdinand Berthier. He was one of the first advocates for Deaf culture in a time when those who had hearing differences were outcast by society. The artwork was designed by Paris-based Deaf guest artist Nicolas Combes.

Berthier was born in Saône-et-Loire, France on this day in 1803. As an eight-year old Deaf child, he started attending the National Institute for the Deaf in Paris. His parents hoped he would learn basic vocational and literacy skills to prepare him for a job as a tradesman. However, Berthier thrived in school and drew inspiration from his teachers [such as Laurent Clerc] to pursue a career in education. After further schooling, he returned to teach at the National Institute for the Deaf. By age 27, he became one of the school’s most senior professors.

In 1834, Berthier organized the first silent banquet for Deaf Frenchmen. In the following years, women, journalists, and government officials began to attend the annual event. Berthier also successfully petitioned the French government to create an organization that represented the Deaf community's interests. The Société Centrale des Sourds-muets was born. The first formalized group of its kind, it helped organize adult education classes and mutual aid efforts for people with Deafness.

After becoming a public figure through those initiatives, Berthier used his newfound fame to spotlight other inspiring Deaf people and teachings. He wrote books about the history of sign language and biographies about those who fought for Deaf rights, often referencing sign-language poets as authors in his work. Meanwhile, he pushed Société Centrale des Sourds-muets to become a global organization. In 1849, Berthier received the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur — the first Deaf person to be awarded France’s highest honor.

Berthier remains one of the key activists for Deaf rights, and his efforts advanced education and perception of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Europe and America. Today, silent banquets are still held around the world.

Berthier's work also helped to raise awareness of the importance of sign language and Deaf culture, and to promote the use of sign language in Deaf education. As a result of the hard work and advocacy of Berthier, Deaf and hard of hearing people are now able to enjoy more of their human rights than ever before including access to medical care, and the right to drive vehicles.

Happy Birthday, Ferdinand Berthier!

[9A]

Sep 17, 2023

Celebrating Picos de Europa




Today’s Doodle celebrates Picos de Europa National Park. Spread across 11 villages in northern Spain, the park is home to meadows, lakes, and a steep, sloping mountain range. On this day in 2001, the Bulnes cable car was inaugurated, which ended the isolation of the town of Bulnes which is located in the Picos de Europa. The Bulnes train station can be spotted within the second “G” in today’s Doodle artwork!

The park’s natural beauty and abundant resources attract more than millions of visitors annually. From flourishing grasslands to dense forests, its 67,127 hectares provide ideal dwelling places for protected species like bearded vultures, brown bears, and Iberian wolves. The Cantabrian chamois has become the unofficial mascot of the park. Statues of the mountain goat antelope decorate trail signs and lodging throughout. Picos De Europa is also a flower enthusiast's paradise with over 40 orchid species and rare fauna like the pulsatilla rubra — known for its vibrant red petals with golden yellow stamens.

In 2003, UNESCO approved Biosphere Reserve status for the park, establishing it as a site for scientific work. Nearly a decade later, Spain extended the park’s boundaries to its current size. Today, Picos de Europa remains one of nature’s wonders and reminds us why we should protect it.

[9A]

Feb 24, 2024

Lantern Festival 2024


This Lantern Festival Doodle highlights the year of the dragon.

People have celebrated the Lantern Festival for over 2,000 years, but its origin is debated. Many believe the lanterns were first offerings to gods, and another popular legend details how townspeople used them to save their village. The Jade Emperor planned to burn a town, but its residents used glowing red lanterns to give the illusion that the place was already burning, and they were left alone.

These paper lanterns are known to bring good luck, and they’re used to welcome the new year. People may make a wish as they set their lantern adrift or write something they hope for on it. Some write a riddle for others to solve on their lantern, and those who crack the puzzles will often get a small prize.

Other typical festivities include dragon and lion dances and an array of delicious treats. The most traditional dessert is glutinous rice balls called tang yuan or yuan xiao, which can be filled with jujube paste, brown sugar, or other sweet fillings.

Here’s to a year of joy and prosperity — happy Lantern Festival!

[9A]

Oct 19, 2023

Jaap Eden's 150th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Dutch athlete Jaap Eden. In the early 20th century, his athletic abilities made him an international spectacle and he remains the only person to become a world champion in both cycling and skating.

Eden was born on this day in Groningen, Netherlands in 1873. He was raised by his grandparents and spent the majority of his childhood playing sports. A retired Dutch skater discovered fifteen-year-old Eden practicing and believed he showed great promise. After three years of training and winning amateur races, Eden made his debut at the international level. In 1893, he won his first world title at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships.

In 1894, Eden broke two skating world records, including the five-kilometer race, which stood for 17 years. Despite competing at the most competitive level of skating in the world, Eden also found time to practice and race in cycling — another sport he loved. He won the cycling world championship that same year and later set a world record in the 1,000-meter race.

Eden earned two more skating world titles in Hamar and St. Petersburg. He skated and cycled until 1902, but chose to retire once his performance began to decline. In 1961, Amsterdam opened Jaap Eden Ice Rink, the biggest indoor-outdoor skating rink in the country and home to the hockey team the Amsterdam Tigers. A decade later, the Netherlands named the Dutch Sportsman of the Year award after Eden. He still ranks as one of the most iconic Dutch athletes, and his legacy continues to inspire skaters and cyclists around the world.

Happy birthday, Jaap Eden!

[9A]

Aug 11, 2023

Mountain Day 2023


Today, the love for Japan's 12,000+ mountains reaches a peak — it's Mountain Day! This holiday was advocated for by nature and hiking groups before being enacted in 2014 and celebrated for the first time in 2016. Some speculate that the holiday takes place on August 11th because the kanji for “eight” [八] somewhat resembles a mountain and the number 11 looks like two trees.

This holiday aims to give Japanese people an opportunity to visit, appreciate, and celebrate the mountains that make up 70% of the country’s landmass. Japan has over 400 volcanoes, around 100 of which are active, and about 27,000 hot springs warmed by magma, so there are plenty of ways to take in the natural wonders.

As Japan’s newest public holiday, there are no traditional celebrations on this day, but many try to spend the day outdoors and treasure the peaks and ridges near them. Some visit and climb the highest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, while others take a shorter hike to places like Zushi Beach or Mt. Tenran for a magnificent mountainous lookout. Others opt for an adventure to the stratovolcano Sakurajima which may erupt on the visit — there are minor eruptions about 200 times a year!

In the mood for some peaceful time in the great outdoors? Visit a hot spring for an all-natural hot tub, or paint a landscape while you take in the views.

To summit all up, there are many ways to celebrate the treasures that nature and mountains offer. Happy Mountain Day, Japan!

[9A]

Apr 24, 2023

Zofia Nasierowska's 85th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Zofia Nasierowska, who is considered one of the most significant Polish photographers of her era. She specialized in portraits and won numerous international awards for her works.

Nasierowska was born on this day in Łomianki in 1938. Her father was a famous photographer and started teaching her how to take photos when she was seven. She was already gaining recognition as an artist while studying at the Leon Schiller National Film School in Łódź. Many of Nasierowska’s peers and classmates, now regarded as influential figures in Polish culture, were the first few subjects of her portrait photography.

Beyond her technical skills behind the lens, she’s also remembered for her warm and welcoming personality. She could put her models at ease through conversation and compliments, and draw out the right mood for each shot. Nasierowska’s photos were used as covers for several publications and magazines in the ‘60s and ‘70s including Ekran, Zwierciadło, Przekrój, and more.

In 1956, she was invited as a member of the Związek Polskich Artystów Fotografików [ZPAF, or the Association of Polish Art Photographers] and was inducted into the International Federation of Photographic Art. After a 35-year long career, an eye disease caused her to stop taking photos. Nasierowska moved to Ełk in Masuria with her husband and opened a boarding house. She invested into and helped develop the community, and the city’s library was renamed in her honor.

Happy birthday, Zofia Nasierowska!

[9A]

Jul 05, 2016

Juno Reaches Jupiter





A NASA satellite built like a tank is settling into polar orbit around Jupiter, the mysterious gas giant two doors down from Earth.

Juno’s five year, 500 million mile journey will culminate in a treasure trove of new pictures and measurements taken by its nine instruments. What Juno tells us about Jupiter will detail the planet’s magnetic and gravitational fields and interior structure, revealing how it was formed and providing clues to our own planet’s humble beginnings.

In satellite terms, Juno is a warrior. Building the 3,500-pound device for Jupiter’s brutal atmosphere took seven years and countless hours of testing. NASA scientists equipped Juno with titanium shields to withstand pummeling rocks, powerful radiation, and freezing temperatures. It’s armor will keep it safe and working properly over its year-long polar orbit collecting data about Jupiter.

Today's Doodle celebrates this incredible moment of human achievement. Bravo, Juno!

Visit NASA’s page on the Google Cultural Institute to see how space exploration has evolved over the years.

[9A]

Apr 13, 2022

Ola Rotimi's 84th Birthday




Emmanuel Gladstone Olawale Rotimi, also known as Ola Rotimi, was in the spotlight for more reasons than one. Today’s Doodle celebrates the renowned Nigerian playwright, director, actor, choreographer and designer, who used his art to reflect on Nigeria’s rich culture, diversity, and local traditions.

Ola Rotimi was born in 1938 and grew up in a family of artists: His mother managed a traditional dance group and his father organized a community theater. His father also directed and produced a play where Rotimi would show up on stage for the first time at only four-years-old. His family’s passion for the arts, as well as his mixed parentage—an Ijaw mother and Yoruba father—greatly influenced his future work. He would later attend Boston University to study theater and earned an M.F.A. degree at Yale University in playwriting and dramatic literature.

Throughout Rotimi’s career, he wrote and directed dozens of plays and short stories that poignantly examined Nigeria’s ethnic traditions and history. He was known to have a larger-than-life vision and embraced dance, music, and even mime within his productions. Rotimi’s plays pulled back the curtain to unveil traditional Nigerian rituals, songs, and dances to audiences all over the world. Some of his most celebrated and award-winning works include The Gods Are Not to Blame, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, and Kurunmi.

Happy birthday to “the father of Nollywood” and one of Nigeria’s foremost dramatists, Ola Rotimi.

[9A]

Aug 16, 2022

Kimiko Tsumura's 120th Birthday




Noh is a sophisticated and mysterious artform of traditional Japanese theater where performers act, dance, chant and play instruments while dressed in elegant masks and elaborate costumes. Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and 120th birthday of Tsumura Kimiko, a Japanese actor and playwright who was one of the first female figures in the world of Noh. She broke down barriers in the once male-dominated artform and introduced new artistic values through her plays.

Tsumura was born in Akashi, Japan on this day in 1902. At a young age, Tsumura chose to pursue traditional theater after falling in love with playwriting. This was going to be a challenge since girls in Tokyo in the early 1900s were taught lessons in Noh but were excluded from professional productions.

When she was seventeen, Tsumura’s life took a drastic turn when she became a student of Kanze Kasetsu, an established actor. During her studies, Tsumura learned and memorized all two hundred classical Noh plays by heart. She was then given the opportunity to travel to Busan, Korea and teach, eventually building her reputation as a skilled instructor. At nineteen, she made her first public performance on stage.

News of this performance reached her homeland and shocked the Nohgaku Association, which mediated and oversaw all Noh performances in Japan. Tsumura was ordered not to contact the association, and her teacher-student relationship with Kasetsu ended abruptly.

Unable to give up on her dream, Tsumura sought to master every aspect of the artform and opened up her own school, Ryokusen-Kai, when she returned to Japan in 1925. For the next fifty years, she wrote and performed several of her own plays, traveling back and forth between Japan and Korea. Many of her students became esteemed performers and continued her legacy of love and admiration for the artform. Tsumura paved the way for generations of female Noh actors to come, and her work is still celebrated and recognized today.

Happy birthday, Tsumura Kimiko!

[9A]

Aug 08, 2021

Sarla Thukral's 107th Birthday




Today’s high-flying Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Vrinda Zaveri, celebrates Indian pilot, designer, and entrepreneur Sarla Thukral on her 107th birthday. Thukral is often best known for being the first Indian woman to pilot an aircraft.

We planned to run this same Doodle honoring Sarla Thukral in India last year. However, when the tragic plane crash occurred in Kerala, we withheld the Doodle out of respect to the event and relief effort. Though we don’t usually run Doodles more than once, Thukral left such a lasting legacy for women in aviation that we decided to run the Doodle this year in honor of her 107th birthday.


Sarla Thukral was born in Delhi, British India on this day in 1914 and later moved to Lahore in present-day Pakistan. Inspired by her husband who was an airmail pilot from a family of fliers, she began training to follow in their footsteps. At age 21, dressed in a traditional sari, she stepped into the cockpit of a small double-winged plane for her first solo flight. Lifting the craft into the sky, she made history in the process. Newspapers soon spread the word that the skies were no longer the province for only men.

And Thukral’s groundbreaking ascent did not stop there. As a student of the Lahore Flying Club, she completed 1,000 hours of flight time to gain her A licence, another first for Indian women. She then began preparation to become a commercial pilot, but the outbreak of World War II put a halt on civil aviation training. Instead, Thukral studied fine art and painting at Lahore’s Mayo School of Arts [[now the National College of Arts). She later returned to Delhi where she continued painting and built a successful career designing jewelry and clothing.

In the decades since, Thukral’s soaring achievements have paved the way for generations of Indian women to turn their dreams of flight into reality.

Dhanyavaad, Sarla Thukral–with one flight, you opened up the door to the skies.

[9A]

Nov 26, 2020

Celebrating Saloma




Today’s Doodle celebrates the beloved Singaporean-Malaysian actor, singer, and fashion icon best known as Saloma. A trend-setter of Malaysian entertainment from the late ‘50s through the early ‘80s, Saloma recorded over 500 songs, and through her charismatic film work she paved the way for future generations of female actors in her country. On this day in 1978, she made history when she was awarded Malaysia’s first Biduanita Negara [National Songbird] by the Malaysian government of the time.

Saloma was born Salmah Ismail in Singapore on January 22, 1932, and first started to explore her skills as a vocalist at just seven years old. By her teenage years, she began to sing professionally, starting her music career through performances at nightclubs and weddings.

Once Saloma transitioned to acting by the mid ‘50s, she quickly became a celebrity figure. In 1961, she married fellow multi-hyphenate entertainment icon P. Ramlee, and over the years that followed, the legendary power couple forever altered Malaysian entertainment through music and film. Sporting her signature coiffed hairdo and inimitable clothing [much of which she sewed herself], Saloma starred in movies throughout the ‘60s and released albums for the rest of her life.

Thank you, Saloma, for using your artistic gifts to inspire women in Malaysia and beyond to be themselves.

[9A]

Mar 27, 2020

Celebrating the Marinière




Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the iconic French blue-and-white-striped shirt, the marinière [French for “sailor shirt”]. On this day in 1858, the French Navy decreed this versatile undergarment part of the official uniform of its sailors, marking the genesis of the top’s storied journey into closets around the world.

Knit tightly from wool in order to guard seafarers against the harsh elements of their maritime environment, the marinière’s initial function is well-known. However, the significance of the sweater’s striped design is still up for debate. Some stories say the horizontal stripes were designed to make it easier to spot sailors who fell overboard, while other accounts claim that each stripe was meant to represent one of Napoleon’s naval victories over the British. Regardless of its history, there is no denying that the marinière has since transformed into an unmistakable statement of style.

In the late 19th century, the marinière began its migration from navy decks to city streets with the help of French writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Frequently spotted at masked balls in Paris wearing the now-iconic striped shirt, Colette boldly broke conventional gender stereotypes and helped to pave the way for modern womenswear.

By the 1920s, bohemians, intellectuals, and fashionistas of the French Riviera had adopted the marinière, further cementing the jersey’s evolution from a staple of nautical life to a symbol of artistic chic.

From artists to movie stars, the marinière has earned countless iconic endorsements over the decades, respected and seen today as a timeless classic the world over.

[9A]

Dec 20, 2023

Sedad Hakkı Eldem's 115th Birthday




This Doodle celebrates Turkish architect Sedad Hakki Eldem, who is widely remembered for modernizing architecture in Türkiye.

Eldem’s passion for art, design, and architecture developed from an early age. He attended the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts and graduated in 1928 before traveling to Europe on a state scholarship. In 1931, he designed the Turkish Pavilion for the Budapest International Fair as an example of modern Turkish architecture, which was greatly appreciated by those who visited the exhibition.

Over the course of the next few decades, Eldem became a prominent member of the architectural community. He led more than 20 significant building projects and published architectural researches including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Topkapi Palace. His distinct style, which blended both modern and traditional characteristics, earned him widespread acclaim. His keen eye and expertise of Ottoman designs gave his modern constructions an authentic, historical twist.

He was also a revered educator and writer who greatly influenced Turkey’s national style through both architectural progress and preservation.
Happy birthday, Sedad Hakki Eldem!

[9A]

Jan 13, 2023

Enedina Alves Marques' 110th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 110th birthday of Brazilian engineer Enedina Alves Marques, the first Black woman in Brazil to receive an engineering degree and the first woman in the state of Paraná to become an engineer.

On this day in 1913, Marques was born in Curitiba, Brazil. She worked as a domestic laborer and nanny to put herself through secondary school and became a teacher after graduating. But she had her sights set higher on attending University. She took the qualification exams and enrolled in civil engineering classes at the Federal University of Paraná in 1940. As this was only fifty years after abolishing slavery and nine years since women gained the right to vote, Marquez was antagonized and ignored by some of her teachers and peers. Despite facing discrimination while getting a degree in a White, male-dominated field, Marques persisted and was the only woman alongside 32 male students to graduate in 1945.

She began her career at the State Department of Transportation and Public Works as an engineering assistant and transferred to the State Department of Water and Electric Energy in Paraná. Here, she contributed to sizable projects, like the development of the Paraná Hydroelectric Plan for several rivers in the area, and the topographical survey and construction of the biggest underground hydroelectric plant, the Capivari-Cachoeira Plant.

In recognition of her contributions to Paraná and the engineering field, her name was inscribed on the Memorial à Mulher [Memorial to the Woman] along with 53 other pioneering Brazilian women. A street in a neighborhood of Curitiba was named Rua Engenheira Enedina Alves Marques after her. And in 2006, the Instituto de Mulheres Negras Enedina Alves Marques [Enedina Alves Marques Institute of Black Women] was founded in Maringá, Paraná.

Happy birthday, Enedina Alves Marques!

[9A]

Mar 31, 2023

Satoshi Kako’s 97th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 97th birthday of Satoshi Kako, a Japanese author and illustrator who created children’s books that are read to this day. He wrote over 600 stories, and his engineering and scientific background inspired him to add a unique spin to make each tale educational, enjoyable, and stimulating for Japanese youth.

Kako, whose real name was Satoshi Nakajima, was born on this day in 1926 in Kunitaka Village of the Fukui Prefecture. As a boy, he was surrounded by other talented kids who encouraged him to take up drawing. Kako studied chemistry at Tokyo Imperial University [now the University of Tokyo] and graduated in 1948. While in school, he joined a theater study group and began writing scripts and designing stage sets for children’s plays.

He got a job at a major Japanese chemical company and organized puppet shows and traditional kamishibai [or play-card] performances for his colleagues’ children. Fueled by the smiles in the small audiences and praises from coworkers, Kako wrote his debut children’s book in 1959 titled Damu no Ojisan-Tachi [Uncles of the Dam] about how dams are useful to society. He continued to create masterpiece works throughout the next three decades.

Kako is most known for the Daruma-chan series about Little Daruma, a boy who goes on countless adventures and makes new friends along the way. He also wrote many stories that taught kids about everyday topics like brushing their teeth, traditional Japanese games, baking, and more. Throughout his long career as an author, Kako won many awards like the Takahashi Gozan Special Award in 1985, the Japanese Science Reading Award in 1991, and the Kanagawa Culture Award in 2009.

From beakers to books and test tubes to tales, Satoshi Kako’s life was a page turner. Happy birthday!

[9A]

Mar 31, 2023

Juntree Siriboonrod 's 106th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 106th birthday of Thai author Juntree Siriboonrod, widely regarded as the “father of Thai science fiction”.

Siriboonrod was born on this day in 1917. Not much is known about his childhood. Super fans might suspect he traveled from an alternate universe or warded off aliens from the crib, but — in true science fiction fashion — no one knows his origin story for sure!

He initially worked for the Thai government as a civil servant in the Department of Ministry Fuels. After taking a job as a high school science teacher, Siriboonrod started writing science-focused articles and stories.

In 1945, Siriboonrod collaborated with the Science Society of Thailand to write Witthayasat Mahatsachan, a Thai science magazine. He wrote everything from science fiction to scientist’s biographies until his resignation in 1959. During this time, he published Phu Dap Duang Athit, or The Man Who Put Out the Sun, a collection of fantastical, science-fiction short stories that is still celebrated across Thailand today.

In 2005, the Science Society of Thailand and the Science Writers and Publishers Forum established the Juntree Siriboonrod Award in his honor. The award celebrates achievements in the field of Thai science fiction, and serves as a reminder of Siriboonrod’s literary impact.

[9A]

Apr 19, 2021

Vera Gedroits’ 151st Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Russian surgeon, professor, poet, and author Dr. Vera Gedroits on her 151st birthday. Dr. Gedroits is credited as the country’s first female military surgeon and one of the world’s first female professors of surgery, who saved countless lives through her fearless service and innovations in the field of wartime medicine.

Vera Ignatievna Gedroits was born on this day in 1870 into a prominent family of Lithuanian royal descent in Kiev, then part of the Russian Empire. In her late teens, she left Russia to study medicine in Switzerland. Dr. Gedroits returned home at the turn of the 20th century, and she soon began her pioneering medical career as the surgeon at a factory hospital.

When the Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904, Dr. Gedroits volunteered as a surgeon on a Red Cross hospital train. Under threat of enemy fire, she performed complex abdominal operations in a converted railway car with such unprecedented success that her technique was adopted as the new standard by the Russian government. Following her battlefield service, Dr. Gedroits worked as a surgeon for the Russian royal family before her return home to Kiev, where she was appointed professor of surgery at the University of Kiev in 1929.

She authored several medical papers on nutrition and surgical treatments during her time as a professor, but her talent as a writer was not limited to academics. Dr. Gedroits also published multiple collections of poems, and several nonfiction works, including the 1931 memoir simply titled “Life,” which told the story of her personal journey that led to service on the front lines in 1904.

Thank you, Vera Gedroits, for pushing the world of medicine forward, even with the odds stacked against you.

[9A]

Jul 06, 2021

Shusaku Arakawa's 85th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Japanese-American author, conceptual artist, and trans-humanist architect Shusaku Arakawa. Together with his wife, Arakawa chased a philosophical quest for immortality through experimental paintings, literature, and, at the grandest scale, architectural oddities—a concept coined Reversible Destiny.

Shusaku Arakawa was born on this day in 1936 in Nagoya, Japan. His early life was defined by mathematics and medicine studies before he pursued surrealist painting at Tokyo’s Musashino Art University. As an early adopter of the international conceptual art movement, he joined similarly minded artists after his 1961 move to New York City. Soon after, Shusako met a poet who became his lifelong artistic collaborator and spouse: Madeline Gins.

In 1963, the couple began the ambitious “The Mechanism of Meaning” series—an assemblage of 83 large panel paintings crafted with the aim of investigating the mysteries of human consciousness that required over a decade to bring to fruition. Global exhibitions of the masterwork funded the couple’s next lofty endeavor: extending life expectancy by fostering a novel relationship with the built world called “procedural architecture.” They hypothesized that engaging residents with challenging interior designs, such as steep and uneven floor plans, would boost immunity and fight aging by promoting an active and thoughtful relationship with one’s surroundings. Their first residential works of procedural architecture can be found at Reversible Destiny Lofts, a complex in Tokyo and the inspiration for today’s Doodle artwork.

Arakawa and Gins devoted their lives to designing an architectural fountain of youth and founded multiple institutions to advance this project, including the Reversible Destiny Foundation. Today, several installations of their eccentric architecture remain open to the public, such as the Reversible Destiny Lofts. This renown project comprises a brightly colored residential complex in Tokyo that served as the couple’s first work of procedural architecture, which they dedicated to Helen Keller.

Happy birthday, Shusaku Arakawa!

[9A]

Aug 13, 2023

Gluck’s 128th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Manchester-based guest artist Sonny Ross, celebrates British artist Gluck’s 128th birthday. Known for their iconic portraits and picture-frame design, Gluck also painted over gender norms by refusing to use any forename or prefix [such as Miss or Mr].

On this day in 1895, Gluck was born into a successful family in London. While attending St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, Gluck won a Royal Drawing Society Silver Star. They attended St. John’s Wood School of Art before moving to the village of Lamorna in Cornwall, a hot spot for artists. In Larmorna’s community, Gluck began defying traditional fashion and gender appearances. When an art society identified Gluck as “Miss Gluck” on its letterhead, Gluck immediately resigned.

Refusing to identify with an artistic school or movement, Gluck chose to only show their work in solo exhibitions. In 1924, they showcased 56 paintings at the Dorien Leigh Galleries in London. Every single painting sold and the floral paintings gained popularity among local interior designers.

In 1932, Gluck designed and patented a picture frame, later known as the Gluck frame. The three-tiered design, which traditionally matched the color of the wall it hung on, gave the illusion that its painting was part of the wall’s architecture. The British Art in Industry exhibitions debuted the design, which again attracted the attention of interior designers.

Inspired by the production of a Mozart opera, Gluck painted Medallion in 1936. The dual portrait of them and their lover is now an iconic lesbian statement and one of the most famous depictions of a lesbian relationship.

Gluck also fought for change in the arts industry. Dissatisfied with the quality of available paints for artist work, Gluck spent ten years campaigning to create a new standard for oil paints — and the British Standards Institution ultimately conceded.

In 1973, Gluck held their final exhibition and debuted over fifty paintings from throughout their career.

Gluck refused to compromise artistically and personally, and their legacy continues to inspire countless artists to express themselves freely. Happy Birthday, Gluck

[9A]

Sep 10, 2022

Chuseok 2022



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Seoul-based guest artist ​​Dasom Yun, celebrates Chuseok [추석]. Also known as the full moon festival, this three-day holiday always begins on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, September 10th marks the day when Koreans return to their ancestral hometowns and celebrate with loved ones.

Chuseok, meaning autumn evening, originated from Korea’s past as an agricultural society. Whenever a full moon appears in a mid-autumn sky, it signals that the harvest season has ended—it’s now time to relax and thank their ancestors for an abundant harvest.

Traditionally, Koreans celebrate Chuseok with special meals and folk games. In the morning, many families hold a memorial service called charye to honor their ancestors with offerings like freshly harvested rice and songpyeon [bite-sized rice cakes]. People also enjoy delicious meals with foods like jeon—a pancake-like dish that can be made with fish, meat or vegetables. In modern times, gift-giving has become a new way for Koreans to show their appreciation for relatives, friends and co-workers.

Happy Chuseok, everyone!

[9A]

Jan 14, 2021

Petr Semenov-Tian-Shansky's 194th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the multi-talented Russian geographer, author, and statistician Petr Petrovich Semenov-Tian-Shansky. A pioneering explorer of Asia’s Tien Shan mountain system, Semenov made huge strides in varied fields including geography, botany, statistics, and economics—all while amassing a comprehensive collection of Dutch and Flemish artwork and over 700,00 insects.

Petr Petrovich Semenov was born into a wealthy family on this day in 1827 near the city of Ryazan in Western Russia. He took an interest in botany and history as a child and went on to study natural sciences at St. Petersburg University. Following his graduation, he was admitted to the prestigious Russian Geographical Society, where he set out to translate work by the famous German geographer Karl Ritter. It was this project that first inspired Semenov to explore Central Asia’s Tien Shan mountain range, which was almost entirely uncharted by western scientists.

In 1856, Semenov embarked on his legendary first expedition of the Tien Shan. Over the course of two journeys, he classified enormous areas of mountainous terrain, and discovered eight new plant species. After his return, Semenov was elected vice president of the Russian Geographical Society and encouraged a new generation to follow in his footsteps as explorers. Semenov became a senator in 1882 and went on to spearhead Russia’s first population census in 1897.

In honor of his geographic accomplishments, Semenov was given the honorific title of Tian-Shansky on the 50-year anniversary of his iconic excursion.

Happy birthday to a fearless adventurer who reached the highest peaks of scientific progress.

[9A]

Aug 23, 2022

Anna Mani's 104th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 104th birthday of Indian physicist and meteorologist Anna Mani, one of the country’s first female scientists. Her life’s work and research made it possible for India to make accurate weather forecasts, and laid the groundwork for the nation to harness renewable energy.

Born on this day in 1918, Mani grew up in the former state of Travancore [present-day Kerala]. She spent her formative years immersed in books. By age 12, Mani had read almost every book at her public library! She remained an avid reader all her life.

After high school, she did her Intermediate Science course at Women’s Christian College [WCC] and went on to complete a Bachelor of Science with honours in physics and chemistry from Presidency College, Madras. After graduation, she taught at WCC for a year and won a scholarship for post-graduate studies at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Here, under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman, she studied spectroscopy, specializing in diamonds and rubies.

Between 1942 and 1945, she published five papers, completed her Ph.D. dissertation, and began a graduate program at Imperial College, London, where she learned to specialize in meteorological instrumentation.

She began working for the India Meteorological Department upon her return to India in 1948, where she helped the country design and manufacture its own weather instruments. She excelled so much in this male-dominated field that by 1953, she became head of the division. Under her leadership, more than 100 weather instrument designs were simplified and standardized for production.

Mani was also an early advocate of alternative energy sources. Throughout the 1950s, she established a network of solar radiation monitoring stations and published several papers on sustainable energy measurement.

Mani later became Deputy Director General of India Meteorological Department, and held several key positions in the United Nations World Meteorological Organization. In 1987, she won the INSA K. R. Ramanathan Medal for her remarkable contributions to science.

After her retirement, she was appointed as a Trustee of the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore. She also founded a company that manufactured solar and wind energy devices.

Happy 104th birthday, Anna Mani! Your life’s work inspired brighter days for this world.

[9A]

Feb 29, 2024

Leap Day 2024


Happy Leap Day 2024!

Ribbiting news, it's Leap Day! Leap Day, February 29th, only occurs about every four years, to keep our calendars in alignment with the Earth and sun.

Enjoy this bonus day of February — Happy Leap Day!

[9A]

Feb 29, 2020

Leap Day 2020




Notice anything different about today? Let’s jump right into it!

Today’s Doodle is jumping for joy on Leap Day, the 29th day of February that only occurs about every four years, to keep our calendars in alignment with the Earth and sun.

We HOP you have a good one—Happy Leap Day!

[9A]

February 28, 2020

Sir John Tenniel's 200th Birthday




“‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ [said Alice].
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.”
—Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland”

Don’t be late for today’s very important date! That is, the 200th birthday of British illustrator and artist Sir John Tenniel, celebrated by today’s Doodle. Tenniel is one of the most highly-regarded Victorian illustrators and painters, and is perhaps best remembered for bringing to life the characters of Lewis Carroll’s timeless “Alice in Wonderland” series.

Tenniel was born in London on this day in 1820, and his talent was clear from a young age. At just 16, the mostly self-taught artist submitted his first work, an oil painting, for exhibition at the Society of British Artists. Tenniel found his calling as an illustrator in 1850 when he became a political cartoonist with the historic weekly magazine Punch. Tenniel developed a distinctive style, due in part to his near-photographic memory.

It was this unique approach that most likely caught the attention of writer and professor Charles Dodgson, whose pen name was Lewis Carroll. After an introduction in 1864, Tenniel agreed to illustrate Carroll’s new book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” released the following year.

Thus began a highly successful, if strained, creative partnership that continued with “Through the Looking Glass” in 1872. The result: a series of classic characters, such as Alice and the Cheshire Cat, as depicted in the Doodle artwork’s rendition of their iconic meeting—characters who, along with many others, remain beloved by readers of all ages to this day.

After his work with Caroll, Tenniel never accepted another illustration job again; instead, he returned to his political cartoon work at Punch. For his considerable contributions to both the magazine and “Alice in Wonderland,” Tenniel received a knighthood in 1893.

Tenniel’s illustrations have animated the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations. His legacy continues to thrive, as readers cherish these timeless works of art to this day.

[9A]

November 4, 2021

Charles K. Kao's 88th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the visionary Chinese-born, British-American physicist and educator Charles K. Kao, considered the father of fiber optics whose innovations revolutionized global communication and laid the groundwork for today’s high-speed internet.

Charles Kuen Kao was born on this day in 1933 in Shanghai, China. Drawn to intellectual work early in life with notable academic success, he went on to study electrical engineering in England. He supported his graduate studies as an engineer at Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd., where his colleagues invented the laser in 1960.

Shortly after earning his doctorate, Kao and his collaborator George Hockham published a groundbreaking paper in 1966 that proposed fibers fabricated with purified glass could carry a gigahertz [1 billion hertz] of information over long distances using lasers. Kao led the development of this revolutionary technology, and in 1977, the first telephone network carried live signals through optical fibers. By the 1980s, Kao was overseeing the implementation of fiber-optic networks worldwide.

Kao was a dedicated educator in addition to being a trailblazing researcher. Beginning in 1987, he spent nearly a decade as Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and founded Hong Kong’s Independent Schools Foundation. Kao’s landmark research in the 1960s earned him a joint Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009 and cleared the path for the over 900 million miles of fiber-optic cables that carry massive quantities of data across the globe today.

Happy birthday, Charles K. Kao—thank you for using every fiber of your being to make the world a more connected place!

[9A]

April 8, 2017

Mary Pickford’s 125th Birthday




Lights, camera, action! Today’s doodle honors the “Queen of the Movies,” Mary Pickford. An actress, a film director, and a producer, Mary Pickford proved that actors weren’t relegated to careers in front of the camera. She co-founded the film studio United Artists and was one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Before she became one of the most powerful women who has ever worked in Hollywood, she was “the girl with the curls,” and one of the most beloved stars of the silent film era. She appeared in as many as 50 films per year, and eventually negotiated wages that were equal to half of each of her films’ profits. She went on to demand full creative and financial control of her films, a feat still unheard of to this day.

She used her stardom to bring awareness to causes close to her heart. She sold Liberty Bonds during World War I, created the Motion Picture Relief Fund, and revolutionized the film industry by giving independent film producers a way to distribute their films outside the studio system. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role in Coquette [1929], and an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 1976.

Today, we pay tribute to Mary Pickford’s enterprising leadership on what would be her 125th birthday.

[9A]

January 22, 2016

Wilbur Scoville’s 151st Birthday





People have known about the tongue-burning, tear-inducing qualities of peppers long before Columbus reached the Americas. Before Wilbur Scoville, however, no one knew how to measure a pepper's “heat”. The doodle team thought his work in this field—and the development of his eponymous Scoville Scale—deserved some recognition.

Born in Bridgeport Connecticut on January 22nd, 1865, Wilbur Lincoln Scoville was a chemist, award-winning researcher, professor of pharmacology and the second vice-chairman of the American Pharmaceutical Association. His book, The Art of Compounding, makes one of the earliest mentions of milk as an antidote for pepper heat. He is perhaps best remembered for his organoleptic test, which uses human testers to measure pungency in peppers.


Early concept art and character designs

Doodler Olivia When has been thinking about Scoville and his test since last summer. From the start it was clear it was going to be a chance to do something fun. She writes:

Spiciness is somewhat of a universal, comical experience, which I think opened the door for us to do something we usually might not be able to, like a fighting game. I started making storyboards for how the game could unfold while engineers worked on building prototypes. Then I started sketching and making draft art to put in the prototype, so we could see what the experience would be like in interactive form.





Ice cream win: draft and final animations

After that I started working on backgrounds, boss characters, meters, and then all the character animations, and ending animations. At some point we thought about setting it in a human mouth, to clarify things, but then realized that was probably too weird [thankfully]. Designing the boss peppers and animating Scoville's reactions to eating them were probably my favorite parts.

Happy birthday, Wilbur!

Art
Olivia When
Brian Kaas
[design assistance]

[9A]

May 22, 2018

Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s 246th Birthday




Today Google is celebrating Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s 246th Birthday. Roy was born in the Bengal Presidency of British controlled India in 1772. He was born to a family of great privilege in the Brahman class. As a young man he traveled throughout the region and learned English, Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit, in addition to the local languages of Bengali and Hindi. His multicultural education taught him to draw from different religions and philosophies to adapt his own ideologies. Roy was very much a free thinker and often championed rights for India’s lower classes. In his fight for a more contemporary society, Roy called for an end to India's Caste system.

Also, Roy consistently advocated for women's rights at a time when they had very few. In fact, he is often remembered for his role in abolishing Sati, a ceremonial funeral practice, and his promotion of a more advanced and just society. It is because of Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s transformative and progressive thinking that many consider him to be the Father of modern India.

[9A]

April 18, 2017

Esther Afua Ocloo’s 98th Birthday

As both an entrepreneur and an advocate for microlending, “Auntie Ocloo” worked tirelessly to help others like her succeed. Esther Afua Ocloo had only six shillings to her name — less than a dollar — when she made and then sold her first jar of marmalade as a teenager in the 1930s.

Esther was determined to expand her livelihood of making marmalade and orange juice, but she needed a loan to increase production, and credit was hard to come by for women with little economic resources. It took persistence and a supply contract to secure the money to start her company, Nkulenu Industries.

After traveling to England to learn the latest techniques in food processing, Esther returned home and shared those skills with other Ghanaian women. Perhaps more importantly, she taught them everything she knew about starting and running a business, which put more money in their pockets. She made such an impact that in 1975 she was invited to the first U.N. World Conference on Women.

Esther and other advisors knew that lending money to women could have a ripple effect, improving the prosperity and health of the women as well as their communities. But because they lacked collateral, low-income women were often ignored by banks. So in 1979, Esther helped found and became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Women’s World Banking, which provides millions of low-income women with the small loans needed to reach their financial goals.

On what would have been her 98th birthday, today’s Doodle shows Esther empowering the women of Ghana with the tools to improve their lives and communities.

[9A]

April 18, 2011

129th Birthday of Monteiro Lobato





José Bento Renato Monteiro Lobato [April 18, 1882 – July 4, 1948] was one of Brazil's most influential writers, mostly for his children's books set in the fictional Sítio do Picapau Amarelo [Yellow Woodpecker Farm] but he had been previously a prolific writer of fiction, a translator and an art critic. He also founded one of Brazil's first publishing houses [Companhia Editora Nacional] and was a supporter of nationalism.

Lobato was born in Taubaté, São Paulo. He is best known for a set of educational but entertaining children's books, which comprise about half of his production. The other half, consisting of a number of novels and short tales for adult readers, was less popular but marked a watershed in Brazilian literature.

[9A]

October 9, 2017

Bagong Kussudiardja’s 89th Birthday




On this date in 1928, Bagong Kussudiardja, better known as ‘Bagong,’ was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A world-renowned choreographer, painter, sculptor, and poet who marched to the beat of his own drum, Bagong spent his formative years studying art, music, and Javanese court dance.

After Indonesia’s independence in 1945, Bagong yearned to expand on his classical training. He started by studying Japanese and Indian dance. From 1957-1958, he trained in the U.S. under Martha Graham, the legendary choreographer famous for her boundary-breaking techniques.

Back on home turf, Bagong incorporated those modern moves to further elevate traditional Indonesian dances. He established the Pusat Latihan Tari Bagong Kussudiardja [Center for Dance] in 1958, followed by the still-thriving Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja [Center for the Arts] in 1978. And he choreographed more than 200 dances in his creative, intricate style.

But choreography was just one part of the picture. Bagong was also revered for his batik oil paintings and watercolors. He worked in a myriad of styles, including impressionistic, abstract, and realistic.

Today’s Doodle illustrates Bagong in his element — paintbrush in hand, richly costumed dancers leaping for joy.

Happy birthday to this avant-garde Javanese artist.